JP2020055154A - Liquid discharge device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid discharge device capable of individually grasping the amount of liquid stored in each of a first liquid chamber and a second liquid chamber. SOLUTION: The apparatus sets a total amount Vt as a fixed value A on condition that a high level signal is received from a liquid level sensor, and a count value is a value corresponding to the amount of ink indicated by a subsequent image recording instruction. The SN is updated, the total amount Vt is calculated by subtracting the count value SN from the total amount Vt set as the fixed value A, and the ink amounts Vc and Vs are determined based on the calculated total amount Vt. [Selection diagram] FIG. 8

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid discharging device for discharging a liquid.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an inkjet printer including a detachable main tank, a sub-tank for storing ink supplied from a mounted main tank, and an image recording unit for ejecting ink stored in the sub-tank and recording an image has been known. (For example, Patent Document 1). The internal space of the main tank and the sub tank is open to the atmosphere. Therefore, when the main tank is mounted on the ink jet printer, the liquid level of the main tank and the sub tank is the same due to the difference between the head of the internal space of the main tank and the head of the internal space of the sub tank (hereinafter referred to as “head difference”). The ink moves to match the height. When the remaining amount of ink detected by the remaining amount detection sensor is less than the threshold, the ink jet printer displays the replacement of the main tank on the display or inhibits the ejection of ink by the image recording unit. I do.

JP 2008-213162 A

  When the image recording unit discharges ink, the amount of liquid stored in each of the main tank and the sub tank changes. For example, when the amount of ink stored in the cartridge approaches zero, it is desirable to inform the user that the cartridge needs to be replaced. On the other hand, when the amount of ink stored in the sub-tank becomes close to zero, it is desirable to notify the user or prohibit image recording so that air does not enter the image recording unit from the sub-tank. Therefore, it is desirable that the ink amounts of the main tank and the sub tank are grasped.

  When the main tank is replaced, the ink flows from the main tank to the sub-tank, so that the remaining amount of ink in the sub-tank should increase. Therefore, it is conceivable that the display of the empty on the display is deleted or the prohibition of the ink ejection is released in accordance with the replacement of the main tank. However, it is impossible to actually confirm whether or not ink is flowing into the sub tank until the signal output from the remaining amount detection sensor changes. For example, when the ink stored in the replaced main tank is a small amount, and the ink flows into the sub-tank, the flow of ink from the main tank to the sub-tank stops. Then, when the display of the empty is deleted in response to the replacement of the main tank, the empty state is actually continued despite the deletion of the display. Further, when the prohibition of ink ejection has been released in response to the replacement of the main tank, by executing image recording, air enters the ink flow path from the sub tank to the image recording unit, a so-called Air-in may occur.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid discharge device capable of individually grasping the amount of liquid stored in each of a first liquid chamber and a second liquid chamber. To provide.

  Another object of the present invention is to release the operation of the alarm or to prohibit printing after it is confirmed that the liquid has flowed into the second liquid chamber of the tank after the cartridge is replaced. It is to provide a means that can be released.

  (1) A liquid discharging device according to the present invention includes a tank, a mounting case in which the cartridge is mounted, a head connected to the tank, a liquid level sensor, a memory, and a controller. The cartridge has a first liquid chamber for storing a liquid. The tank has a second liquid chamber that stores the liquid, a liquid flow path and a gas flow path that communicate with the second liquid chamber, and an atmosphere communication path that communicates the second liquid chamber with the outside. ing. The liquid flow path has a first opening formed at one end communicating with the second liquid chamber, and a second opening formed at the other end opposite to the one end and opened to the outside. doing. The gas flow path has a third opening formed at one end communicating with the second liquid chamber, and a fourth opening formed at the other end opposite to the one end and opened to the outside. doing. The cartridge is mounted on the mounting case, and the first liquid chamber of the cartridge communicates with the second opening of the liquid flow path of the tank and the fourth opening of the gas flow path. In the attached mounting state, the first liquid chamber has a portion located above the second opening, and the second liquid chamber has a portion located below the third opening. Have. The controller receives a first discharge instruction for discharging the liquid through the head, updates the first count value with a value corresponding to the amount of liquid whose discharge has been instructed by the received first discharge instruction, and updates the first count value. The first count value is subtracted from the total liquid amount Vt, which is the sum of the liquid amount Vc stored in the liquid chamber and the liquid amount Vs stored in the second liquid chamber, to calculate the total liquid amount Vt. Then, based on the calculated total liquid amount Vt, the liquid amount Vc and the liquid amount Vs are determined, and the liquid surface sensor is turned on in response to the position of the liquid surface in the second liquid chamber being equal to or higher than a predetermined position. A first signal to be output is received from the liquid level sensor, and a second signal output by the liquid level sensor in response to the position of the liquid level in the second liquid chamber being less than the predetermined position is received by the After receiving one signal, receive from the above liquid level sensor On the condition that the total liquid amount Vt or the liquid amount Vs is determined as a fixed value A, and after receiving the first signal, receiving the second signal from the liquid level sensor, the liquid is passed through the head. Receiving a second discharge instruction for discharging, and on condition that the second discharge instruction is received, updating the second count value with a value corresponding to the amount of liquid instructed to discharge by the second discharge instruction; The second liquid count value is subtracted from the total liquid amount Vt or the liquid amount Vs determined as the fixed value A to calculate the total liquid amount Vt or the liquid amount Vs.

  According to the above configuration, the liquid amount Vc of the first liquid chamber and the liquid amount Vs of the second liquid chamber can be obtained from the total liquid amount Vt. Further, the total liquid amount Vt or the liquid amount Vs can be corrected by determining the total liquid amount Vt or the liquid amount Vs as the fixed value A in response to the output of the second signal from the liquid level sensor.

  (2) Preferably, the controller updates the liquid amount Vc stored in the memory to zero in response to receiving the second signal from the liquid level sensor after receiving the first signal.

  According to the above configuration, the liquid amount Vc after the liquid is no longer supplied from the first liquid chamber to the second liquid chamber can be determined to be zero.

  (3) Preferably, the predetermined position is a position below an imaginary line extending in the horizontal direction including the third opening of the gas flow path in a state where the cartridge is mounted on the mounting case.

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to determine the timing at which the liquid is no longer supplied from the first liquid chamber to the second liquid chamber and the subsequent liquid amount Vs.

  (4) Preferably, the liquid discharging device further includes an annunciator, and the controller is configured to determine whether the total liquid amount Vt or the liquid amount Vs becomes zero after the liquid amount Vc becomes zero. During this time, the alarm is activated.

  According to the above configuration, the user can be notified that the cartridge needs to be replaced.

  (5) Preferably, the liquid discharging device further includes an interface, and the controller stores the determined liquid amount Vc in a cartridge memory of the cartridge through the interface.

  According to the above configuration, even if the cartridge in which the liquid has been consumed is taken out of the mounting case, the liquid amount Vc of the first liquid chamber of the cartridge can be read from the cartridge memory.

  (6) Preferably, the controller determines whether the cartridge is mounted on the mounting case, and in response to determining that the cartridge is mounted on the mounting case, the controller stores the liquid stored in the cartridge memory. The liquid amount Vc is read out from the cartridge memory, and the total liquid amount is read based on the total liquid amount Vt or the liquid amount Vs stored in the memory before the cartridge is mounted. The amount Vt is calculated, and the calculated total liquid amount Vt is stored in the memory.

  According to the above configuration, even when the cartridge in which the liquid has been consumed is mounted in the mounting case, the liquid amount Vc of the first liquid chamber of the cartridge is read from the cartridge memory, and the total liquid amount Vt can be calculated.

  (7) Preferably, the controller causes the cartridge memory to store used information through the interface when the liquid amount Vc becomes zero.

  According to the above configuration, it can be determined that the cartridge does not store the liquid based on the used information in the cartridge memory.

  (8) Preferably, the memory stores an arithmetic expression, and the controller calculates at least one of the liquid amount Vc and the liquid amount Vs from the total liquid amount Vt and the arithmetic expression.

  According to the above configuration, the liquid amount Vc of the first liquid chamber or the liquid amount Vs of the second liquid chamber can be calculated from the total liquid amount Vt by using the arithmetic expression.

  (9) A liquid discharging device according to the present invention includes a tank, a mounting case in which a cartridge is mounted, a head connected to the tank, a liquid level sensor, an alarm, and a controller. The cartridge has a first liquid chamber for storing a liquid. The tank has a second liquid chamber that stores the liquid, a liquid flow path and a gas flow path that communicate with the second liquid chamber, and an atmosphere communication path that communicates the second liquid chamber with the outside. ing. The liquid flow path has a first opening formed at one end communicating with the second liquid chamber, and a second opening formed at the other end opposite to the one end and opened to the outside. doing. The gas flow path has a third opening formed at one end communicating with the second liquid chamber, and a fourth opening formed at the other end opposite to the one end and opened to the outside. doing. The cartridge is mounted on the mounting case, and the first liquid chamber of the cartridge communicates with the second opening of the liquid flow path of the tank and the fourth opening of the gas flow path. In the attached mounting state, the first liquid chamber has a portion located above the second opening, and the second liquid chamber has a portion located below the third opening. Have. The controller receives, from the liquid level sensor, a first signal output by the liquid level sensor when the position of the liquid level in the second liquid chamber is less than a predetermined position, and receives the first signal. Based on the first notification to determine whether or not the cartridge is mounted in the mounting case, if the position of the liquid level in the second liquid chamber is more than the predetermined position After receiving the second signal output by the liquid level sensor and determining that the cartridge is mounted in the mounting case, the first notification is performed based on the reception of the second signal from the liquid level sensor. To release.

  According to the above configuration, since the first notification is released based on the reception of the second signal from the liquid level sensor after the cartridge is mounted, after it is confirmed that the liquid has flowed into the tank without fail, The first notification can be canceled. Therefore, for example, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the empty notification is canceled even though the liquid has not flowed into the tank.

  (10) Preferably, the controller receives a discharge instruction to discharge the liquid through the head, and receives the discharge instruction after receiving the first signal with a value corresponding to the amount of the liquid instructed to be discharged by the discharge instruction. A count value is determined, it is determined whether the count value has reached a threshold value, and based on the determination that the count value has reached the threshold value, the alarm is notified of the first notification.

  (11) Preferably, the controller, based on receiving the first signal, prohibits discharge of the liquid through the head and determines that the cartridge has been mounted in the mounting case, and then controls the liquid level. The prohibition of discharging the liquid through the head is released based on the reception of the second signal from the sensor.

  According to the above configuration, the prohibition of the discharge of the liquid is released based on the reception of the second signal from the liquid level sensor after the cartridge is mounted. Therefore, it is confirmed that the liquid has flowed into the tank without fail. After that, the prohibition of the discharge of the liquid can be released. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of so-called air-in, in which air enters the liquid flow path from the tank to the head.

  (12) Preferably, the controller does not receive the second signal from the liquid level sensor before determining that the elapsed time after determining that the cartridge has been mounted in the mounting case has exceeded a predetermined time. Based on the fact, the notifying device notifies the second notification.

  According to the above configuration, when the liquid does not flow into the tank within the predetermined time, it is possible to cause the alarm to perform the second alarm. Thus, for example, when the amount of liquid stored in the replaced cartridge is small and a sufficient amount of ink has not flowed into the tank, it is possible to notify the user that ink has not flowed into the tank. it can.

  (13) Preferably, the controller, based on the determination that the cartridge is mounted in the mounting case, causes the alarm to notify a third notification, and determines that the cartridge is mounted in the mounting case. Before determining that the elapsed time has exceeded the predetermined time, the controller notifies the notifier of the fourth notification based on the fact that the second signal has not been received from the liquid level sensor.

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to cause the alarm to perform the third notification when the cartridge is mounted, and to perform the fourth notification when the liquid does not flow into the tank within the predetermined time. Thus, for example, after the user is informed that the ink is flowing when the cartridge is mounted, if the amount of the liquid stored in the replaced cartridge is small and a sufficient amount of the ink has not flowed into the tank, the ink flows into the sub tank. The user can be notified that the user has not performed the request.

  (14) Preferably, the liquid discharging device further includes an interface, and the controller is configured to determine that the cartridge has been mounted on the mounting case and to store the cartridge information stored in the cartridge memory of the cartridge. Is read through the interface, based on different types of the cartridge indicated by the cartridge information, or based on different viscosities of the liquid stored in the first liquid chamber indicated by the cartridge information, or Based on the fact that the liquid level of the first liquid chamber indicated by the cartridge information is different, the elapsed time is determined using different predetermined times.

  The time required for the liquid to flow from the cartridge to the tank may vary depending on the flow rate of the liquid from the cartridge to the tank. The inflow speed can vary depending on the cross-sectional area of the first liquid chamber of the cartridge, the liquid level of the first liquid chamber, and the viscosity of the liquid. According to the above configuration, a different predetermined time is used to determine the elapsed time based on the cartridge information read from the cartridge memory of the mounted cartridge. Therefore, the notification when the liquid does not flow into the tank can be performed at an appropriate timing.

  (15) Preferably, the liquid discharging device further includes a temperature sensor, wherein the controller receives a signal output from the temperature sensor based on an ambient temperature, and a signal received from the temperature sensor is different. Then, the elapsed time is determined using different predetermined times.

  When the temperature changes, the viscosity of the liquid changes and the flow rate of the liquid from the cartridge to the tank changes, so that the time required for the liquid to flow from the cartridge to the tank changes. According to the above configuration, a different predetermined time is used to determine the elapsed time based on the signal output from the temperature sensor. Therefore, the notification when the liquid does not flow into the tank can be performed at an appropriate timing.

  (16) A liquid discharge device according to the present invention includes a tank, a mounting case in which a cartridge is mounted, a head connected to the tank, a liquid level sensor, and a controller. The cartridge has a first liquid chamber for storing a liquid. The tank has a second liquid chamber that stores the liquid, a liquid flow path and a gas flow path that communicate with the second liquid chamber, and an atmosphere communication path that communicates the second liquid chamber with the outside. ing. The liquid flow path has a first opening formed at one end communicating with the second liquid chamber, and a second opening formed at the other end opposite to the one end and opened to the outside. doing. The gas flow path has a third opening formed at one end communicating with the second liquid chamber, and a fourth opening formed at the other end opposite to the one end and opened to the outside. doing. The cartridge is mounted on the mounting case, and the first liquid chamber of the cartridge communicates with the second opening of the liquid flow path of the tank and the fourth opening of the gas flow path. In the attached mounting state, the first liquid chamber has a portion located above the second opening, and the second liquid chamber has a portion located below the third opening. Have. The controller receives, from the liquid level sensor, a first signal output by the liquid level sensor when the position of the liquid level in the second liquid chamber is less than a predetermined position, and receives the first signal. Prohibiting the discharge of the liquid through the head, and determining whether or not the cartridge is mounted in the mounting case. If the position of the liquid level in the second liquid chamber is equal to or higher than the predetermined position, After receiving the second signal output by the liquid level sensor and determining that the cartridge is mounted in the mounting case, the liquid passing through the head is determined based on the reception of the second signal from the liquid level sensor. Allow the emission of

  According to the above configuration, since the discharge of the liquid is permitted based on the reception of the second signal from the liquid level sensor after the cartridge is mounted, after it is confirmed that the liquid has reliably flowed into the tank, The discharge of liquid can be allowed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of so-called air-in, in which air enters the liquid flow path from the sub tank to the head.

  (17) Preferably, the liquid discharging device further includes an alarm, and the controller causes the alarm to notify the first notification based on the reception of the first signal, and the cartridge is mounted. After it is determined that the first sensor is attached to the case, the first notification is released based on the reception of the second signal from the liquid level sensor.

  According to the above configuration, since the first notification is released based on the reception of the second signal from the liquid level sensor after the cartridge is mounted, after it is confirmed that the liquid has flowed into the tank without fail, The first notification can be canceled. Therefore, for example, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the empty notification is canceled even though the liquid has not flowed into the tank.

  (18) Preferably, the controller prohibits discharge of the liquid through the head based on determining that the cartridge is mounted in the mounting case.

  (19) The liquid discharging device according to the present invention includes a cartridge, a tank, a mounting case in which the cartridge is mounted, a head connected to the tank, a liquid level sensor, an alarm, and a controller. Prepare. The cartridge has a first liquid chamber for storing a liquid. The tank has a second liquid chamber that stores the liquid, a liquid flow path and a gas flow path that communicate with the second liquid chamber, and an atmosphere communication path that communicates the second liquid chamber with the outside. ing. The liquid flow path has a first opening formed at one end communicating with the second liquid chamber, and a second opening formed at the other end opposite to the one end and opened to the outside. doing. The gas flow path has a third opening formed at one end communicating with the second liquid chamber, and a fourth opening formed at the other end opposite to the one end and opened to the outside. doing. The cartridge is mounted on the mounting case, and the first liquid chamber of the cartridge communicates with the second opening of the liquid flow path of the tank and the fourth opening of the gas flow path. In the attached mounting state, the first liquid chamber has a portion located above the second opening, and the second liquid chamber has a portion located below the third opening. Have. The controller receives, from the liquid level sensor, a first signal output by the liquid level sensor when the position of the liquid level in the second liquid chamber is less than a predetermined position, and receives the first signal. Based on the first notification to determine whether or not the cartridge is mounted in the mounting case, if the position of the liquid level in the second liquid chamber is more than the predetermined position After receiving the second signal output by the liquid level sensor and determining that the cartridge is mounted in the mounting case, the first notification is performed based on the reception of the second signal from the liquid level sensor. To release.

  According to the above configuration, since the first notification is released based on the reception of the second signal from the liquid level sensor after the cartridge is mounted, after it is confirmed that the liquid has flowed into the tank without fail, The first notification can be canceled. Therefore, for example, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the empty notification is canceled even though the liquid has not flowed into the tank.

  (20) A liquid discharge device according to the present invention includes a cartridge, a tank, a mounting case in which the cartridge is mounted, a head connected to the tank, a liquid level sensor, and a controller. The cartridge has a first liquid chamber for storing a liquid. The tank has a second liquid chamber that stores the liquid, a liquid flow path and a gas flow path that communicate with the second liquid chamber, and an atmosphere communication path that communicates the second liquid chamber with the outside. ing. The liquid flow path has a first opening formed at one end communicating with the second liquid chamber, and a second opening formed at the other end opposite to the one end and opened to the outside. doing. The gas flow path has a third opening formed at one end communicating with the second liquid chamber, and a fourth opening formed at the other end opposite to the one end and opened to the outside. doing. The cartridge is mounted on the mounting case, and the first liquid chamber of the cartridge communicates with the second opening of the liquid flow path of the tank and the fourth opening of the gas flow path. In the attached mounting state, the first liquid chamber has a portion located above the second opening, and the second liquid chamber has a portion located below the third opening. Have. The controller receives, from the liquid level sensor, a first signal output by the liquid level sensor when the position of the liquid level in the second liquid chamber is less than a predetermined position, and receives the first signal. Prohibiting the discharge of the liquid through the head, and determining whether or not the cartridge is mounted in the mounting case. If the position of the liquid level in the second liquid chamber is equal to or higher than the predetermined position, After receiving the second signal output by the liquid level sensor and determining that the cartridge is mounted in the mounting case, the liquid passing through the head is determined based on the reception of the second signal from the liquid level sensor. Allow the emission of

  According to the above configuration, since the discharge of the liquid is permitted based on the reception of the second signal from the liquid level sensor after the cartridge is mounted, after it is confirmed that the liquid has reliably flowed into the tank, The discharge of liquid can be allowed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of so-called air-in, in which air enters the liquid flow path from the sub tank to the head.

  According to the present invention, the amounts of the liquids stored in the first liquid chamber and the second liquid chamber can be individually grasped.

  Further, according to the present invention, after it is confirmed that the liquid has reliably flowed into the second liquid chamber of the tank after the replacement of the cartridge, the operation of the alarm or the prohibition of printing is released. be able to.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the multifunction peripheral 10 according to the first embodiment, in which (A) shows a state in which a cover 48 is in a closed position, and (B) shows a state in which the cover 48 is in an open position. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the printer unit 11. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the carriage 23 and the ink supply device 15. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the ink supply device 15 as viewed from the front left. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line VV of FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VV in FIG. 4 in a state where the ink cartridge 50 is removed. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV of FIG. FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line IX-IX in FIG. FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line IX-IX of FIG. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the sub tank 100 and the buffer tank 90 as viewed from the left front. FIG. 12A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XIIA-XIIA of FIG. 10, and FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XIIB-XIIB of FIG. FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the multifunction peripheral 10. FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the image recording process. FIG. 15 is a flowchart of the counting process. FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing a state where the sub tank 100 and the ink cartridge 50 are communicated, and shows a cartridge empty state. FIG. 17 is a block diagram of the MFP 10 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 18 is a flowchart of the image recording process according to the second embodiment. FIG. 19 is a flowchart of a count process according to the second embodiment. FIG. 20A is a diagram illustrating an S_Empty notification screen, FIG. 20B is a diagram illustrating an ink inflow screen, and FIG. 20C is a diagram illustrating a C_Empty notification screen.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. The embodiment described below is merely an example of the present invention, and it goes without saying that the embodiment of the present invention can be appropriately changed without changing the gist of the present invention. In addition, a posture (the posture in FIG. 1, which may be described as “use posture”) in which the multifunction peripheral 10 and the ink cartridge 50 attached to the multifunction peripheral 10 are operably installed on a horizontal surface is used as a reference. The up-down direction 7 is defined, the front-rear direction 8 is defined with the surface of the multifunction device 10 where the opening 13 is provided as the front surface, and the right-left direction 9 when the multifunction device 10 is viewed from the front surface is defined. In the present embodiment, in the use posture, the up-down direction 7 corresponds to the vertical direction, and the front-rear direction 8 and the left-right direction 9 correspond to the horizontal direction.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, the MFP 10 and the ink supply device 15 according to the first embodiment will be described.

[Overall Configuration of MFP 10]
As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction peripheral 10 (an example of a liquid discharge device) has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The multifunction device 10 has a printer unit 11, a scanner unit 12, and an operation panel 22. The printer unit 11 is located below the multifunction peripheral 10, and records an image on a sheet 28 (see FIG. 2) by an ink jet recording method. The scanner unit 12 is a device having a scanning function, and is located above the printer unit 11. The printer unit 11 includes a housing 14 having an opening 13 opening forward, and an ink supply device 15 located to the right of the opening 13 inside the housing 14.

  The operation panel 22 is located in front of the scanner unit 12. The operation panel 22 is operated by a user in order to cause the MFP 10 to execute image recording by the printer unit 11 and image reading by the scanner unit 12. The operation panel 22 has a display 17. The display 17 is a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, or the like, and has a display surface on which various information is displayed. The display 17 is an example of an alarm. However, a specific example of the alarm is not limited to the display 17 and may be a speaker, an LED lamp, or a combination thereof. The operation panel 22 outputs an operation signal according to a user operation to the controller 230. The operation panel 22 may have, for example, a push button, or may have a touch sensor superimposed on a display.

  As shown in FIG. 2, inside the housing 14, a feeding unit 16, a feeding tray 20, a discharging tray 21, a pair of conveying rollers 45, a recording unit 24, a pair of discharging rollers 46, And a platen 42.

[Feeding tray 20, discharging tray 21]
As shown in FIG. 1, the feeding tray 20 can be inserted into and removed from the housing 14 along the front-rear direction 8 through the opening 13. The opening 13 is located on the front of the multifunction peripheral 10 and at the center in the left-right direction 9. As shown in FIG. 2, the feed tray 20 can support a plurality of stacked sheets 28. The discharge tray 21 is disposed above the feed tray 20, and is inserted and withdrawn along the feed tray 20 in the front-rear direction 8. The discharge tray 21 supports the sheet 28 discharged by the discharge roller pair 46.

[Feeding unit 16]
The feeding unit 16 feeds the paper 28 supported by the feeding tray 20 to the transport path 38. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the feeding unit 16 includes a feeding roller 25, a feeding arm 26, and a shaft 27. The feed roller 25 is rotatably supported at the tip of a feed arm 26. The driving of the feeding roller 25 is transmitted from a feeding motor (not shown). The feeding arm 26 is rotatably supported by a shaft 27 supported by a frame of the printer unit 11. The feeding arm 26 is urged to rotate toward the feeding tray 20 by its own weight or elastic force of a spring or the like.

  Hereinafter, the rotation of the feed roller 25, the transport roller 34, and the discharge roller 36 related to the transport of the paper 28 in the direction of transporting the paper 28 in the transport direction 38A is referred to as “forward rotation”.

[Transport path 38]
As shown in FIG. 2, the transport path 38 indicates a space formed by the outer guide member 18, the inner guide member 19, and the like that are opposed at a predetermined interval in the printer unit 11. The transport path 38 is a path extending rearward from the rear end of the feed tray 20. The transport path 38 is a path that extends upward at the rear of the printer unit 11, makes a U-turn forward, and reaches the discharge tray 21 via the space between the recording unit 24 and the platen 42. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the conveyance path 38 between the conveyance roller pair 45 and the discharge roller pair 46 is provided substantially at the center of the MFP 10 in the left-right direction 9 and extends in the front-rear direction 8. ing. The transport direction 38A of the paper 28 in the transport path 38 is indicated by an arrow in FIG.

[Transport roller pair 45]
As shown in FIG. 2, the transport roller pair 45 is located upstream of the recording unit 24 in the transport direction 38A. The transport roller pair 45 has a transport roller 34 and a pinch roller 35 facing each other. The transport roller 34 is driven and transmitted from a transport motor (not shown) and rotates forward or backward. The pinch roller 35 rotates with the rotation of the transport roller 34. The sheet 28 is conveyed in the conveyance direction 38A while being sandwiched between the conveyance roller 34 and the pinch roller 35 that rotate in the forward direction.

[Discharge roller pair 46]
As shown in FIG. 2, the discharge roller pair 46 is disposed downstream of the recording unit 24 in the transport direction 38A. The discharge roller pair 46 has a discharge roller 36 and a spur 37 facing each other. The discharge roller 36 is driven and transmitted from a not-shown transport motor and rotates forward or backward. The spur 37 rotates with the rotation of the discharge roller 36. The sheet 28 is conveyed in the conveyance direction 38A while being sandwiched between the discharge roller 36 and the spur 37 that rotate in the forward direction.

[Recording unit 24]
As shown in FIG. 2, the recording unit 24 is located between the transport roller pair 45 and the discharge roller pair 46 in the transport direction 38A. The recording unit 24 faces the platen 42 in the up-down direction 7 with the transport path 38 interposed therebetween. The recording unit 24 includes a carriage 23 and a recording head 39 mounted on the carriage 23.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the carriage 23 is separated in the front-rear direction 8, and is supported by guide rails 43 and 44 extending in the left-right direction 9. The guide rails 43 and 44 are supported by a frame (not shown). The carriage 23 is connected to a known belt mechanism provided on a guide rail 44. The belt mechanism is rotated by being transmitted from a carriage driving motor (not shown). The carriage 23 reciprocates in the left-right direction 9 while being guided by the guide rails 43 and 44 as the belt mechanism rotates. The moving range of the carriage 23 extends to the right and left of the width 38B of the transport path 38, as shown by the dashed line in FIG.

  The recording head 39 and the four sub-tanks 100 provided in the ink supply device 15 are connected by four ink tubes 32. The recording head 39 is connected to a control board (not shown) by a flexible flat cable 33.

  The four sub tanks 100 are a magenta sub tank 100M, a cyan sub tank 100C, a yellow sub tank 100Y, and a black sub tank 100B. The magenta sub-tank 100M, the cyan sub-tank 100C, the yellow sub-tank 100Y, and the black sub-tank 100B are collectively referred to as the sub-tank 100 in the present specification unless it is necessary to distinguish them.

  The four ink tubes 32 include a yellow ink tube 32Y, a cyan ink tube 32C, a magenta ink tube 32M, and a black ink tube 32B. The yellow ink tube 32Y, the cyan ink tube 32C, the magenta ink tube 32M, and the black ink tube 32B are collectively referred to as the ink tubes 32 unless it is particularly necessary to distinguish them in this specification. The four ink tubes 32 are bundled together.

  The flexible flat cable 33 electrically connects the printhead 39 with the control board on which the control unit is mounted. The flexible flat cable 33 transmits a control signal output from the control unit to the recording head 39.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of nozzles 40 are arranged on the lower surface of the recording head 39. The tips of the plurality of nozzles 40 are exposed from the lower surface of the recording head 39. The recording head 39 discharges ink from the nozzles 40 as minute ink droplets. While the carriage 23 moves, the recording head 39 ejects ink droplets toward the paper 28 supported by the platen 42. Thus, an image is recorded on the sheet 28. This also consumes the ink stored in the four sub-tanks 100.

[Platen 42]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the platen 42 is disposed between the pair of transport rollers 45 and the pair of discharge rollers 46 in the transport path 38. The platen 42 is opposed to the recording unit 24 in the vertical direction 7 with the transport path 38 interposed therebetween. The platen 42 supports the sheet 28 transported by the transport roller pair 45 from below.

[Cover 48]
As shown in FIG. 1B, an opening 47 is formed in the right front portion of the housing 14. An ink supply device 15 is housed in the housing 14, and the front surface of the ink supply device 15 is exposed from the opening 47. A cover 48 that can open and close the opening 47 is attached to the housing 14. The lower end of the cover 48 is supported by the housing 14 below the opening 47 so as to be rotatable around an axis in the left-right direction 9. The cover 48 is rotatable between a closed position for closing the opening 47 (the position shown in FIG. 1A) and an open position for opening the opening 47 (the position shown in FIG. 1B). is there.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the cover 48 has a light transmitting portion 49. The light transmitting portion 49 has a light transmitting property so that the internal configuration can be visually recognized from the outside of the cover 48. When the cover 48 is in the closed position, the front surface of the ink cartridge 50 attached to the ink supply device 15 is visible from the light transmitting portion 49.

[Cover sensor 88]
The multifunction device 10 has a cover sensor 88 (see FIG. 13). The cover sensor 88 may be, for example, a mechanical sensor such as a switch with which the cover 48 comes and goes, or an optical sensor that blocks or transmits light depending on the position of the cover 48. The cover sensor 88 outputs a signal corresponding to the position of the cover 48 to the controller 230. More specifically, cover sensor 88 outputs a low level signal to controller 230 in response to cover 48 being in the closed position. On the other hand, the cover sensor 88 outputs a high-level signal having a higher signal strength than the low-level signal to the controller 230 in response to the cover 48 being located at a position different from the closed position. In other words, the cover sensor 88 outputs a high-level signal to the controller 230 in response to the cover 48 being located at the open position.

[Ink supply device 15]
As shown in FIG. 4, the ink supply device 15 includes four ink cartridges 50, a mounting case 71, four sub-tanks 100, and an atmosphere communication unit 70 (see FIGS. 5 and 11). .

[Ink cartridge 50]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the four ink cartridges 50 (an example of a cartridge) include a magenta ink cartridge 50M, a cyan ink cartridge 50C, a yellow ink cartridge 50Y, and a black ink cartridge 50B. The magenta ink cartridge 50M, the cyan ink cartridge 50C, the yellow ink cartridge 50Y, and the black ink cartridge 50B are collectively referred to as the ink cartridge 50 unless it is necessary to particularly distinguish them in this specification.

  FIG. 4 shows a state in which, of the four ink cartridges 50, only the magenta ink cartridge 50M located on the leftmost side in the left-right direction 9 is stored in the mounting case 71.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the ink cartridge 50 includes a cartridge main body 51 and a joint receiving portion 52. The cartridge body 51 has a first storage chamber 53 (an example of a first liquid chamber) that stores ink (an example of a liquid).

  The cartridge body 51 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box shape. The cartridge body 51 has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the up-down direction 7 and the front-back direction 8. The cartridge body 51 has a convex portion 65 protruding downward at the front end of the cartridge body 51. The cartridge main body 51 has an upper wall 54, a sub lower wall 55, a right wall 56 (see FIG. 4), a left wall 57 (see FIG. 4), a rear wall 58, a front wall 59, and a lower wall 60. The lower wall 60 is located at the front and lower end of the cartridge main body 51, and is located below the sub lower wall 55. The sub lower wall 55 is located behind the lower wall 60. The cartridge body 51 has a communication port 61 that opens rearward (an example in the horizontal direction) at the convex portion 65. The communication port 61 is an opening defined by the sub lower wall 55, the lower wall 60, the right wall 56, and the left wall 57.

  The upper wall 54 is provided with a contact portion 64 protruding upward at the center in the front-rear direction 8. The contact portion 64 is a portion that contacts a lock lever 79 (described later) of the mounting case 71.

  An IC chip 66 (an example of a cartridge memory) is located on the upper surface of the contact portion 64. The IC chip 66 is formed on the IC chip 66. Further, the IC chip 66 includes a memory (not shown). The IC chip 66 is electrically connected to the memory of the IC chip 66. The IC chip 66 is exposed on the upper surface of the IC chip 66 so as to be conductive with the contact 152. That is, when the ink cartridge 50 is mounted on the mounting case 71, the IC chip 66 is electrically connected to the contact 152. The controller 230 can read information from the memory of the IC chip 66 through the contact 152 and the IC chip 66, and can write information into the memory of the IC chip 66 through the contact 152 and the IC chip 66.

  The memory of the IC chip 66 stores the ink amount Vc, identification information for identifying the individual ink cartridge 50, and the like. The initial ink amount Vc0 is stored as the ink amount Vc in the memory of the IC chip 66 in which the ink cartridge 50 is new. The initial ink amount Vc0 is an example of a maximum liquid amount indicating the maximum amount of ink that can be stored in the ink cartridge 50. In other words, the initial ink amount Vc0 indicates the amount of ink stored in the new ink cartridge 50. Hereinafter, information stored in the memory of the IC chip 66 may be collectively referred to as “CTG information”. The term “new” is a so-called unused product, and indicates a state in which the ink in the ink cartridge 50 has never flowed out from the manufactured and sold ink cartridge 50.

  The storage area of the memory of the IC chip 66 has, for example, an area where information is not overwritten by the controller 230 and an area where information can be overwritten by the controller 230. For example, the identification information is stored in an area that is not overwritten, and the ink amount Vc is stored in an area that can be overwritten.

  The upper surface of the sub lower wall 55 that defines the bottom surface of the first storage chamber 53 is inclined downward toward the convex portion 65 in the front-rear direction 8.

  The joint receiving portion 52 has a cylindrical shape extending rearward from a portion surrounding the communication port 61 in the cartridge main body 51. The joint receiving portion 52 is a portion into which a joint 102 (described later) of the sub tank 100 is inserted.

  FIG. 5 shows a mounted state where the ink cartridge 50 is mounted on the sub-tank 100. FIG. 6 shows a separated state in which the ink cartridge 50 has been separated from the sub tank 100. The mounting state will be described in detail below.

  The joint receiving portion 52 is provided with a plug member 62 capable of closing the communication port 61 and a spring 63 for urging the plug member 62 rearward. As shown in FIG. 6, when no external force is applied to the ink cartridge 50, the plug member 62 is at a position that closes the communication port 61. The spring 63 extends in the front-rear direction 8 between the plug member 62 and the front wall 59, and is compressible in the front-rear direction 8. As shown in FIG. 5, when a forward external force greater than the elastic force of the spring 63 is applied to the plug member 62 by the joint 102, the plug member 62 moves forward and separates from the communication port 61.

[Mounting case 71]
The mounting case 71 has a rectangular parallelepiped box shape with an open front. The mounting case 71 has an upper wall 72, a lower wall 73, a right wall 74, a left wall 75, a rear wall 76, and three partition walls 77. The upper wall 72, the lower wall 73, the right wall 74, the left wall 75, and the rear wall 76 define an internal space 78 whose front is open. The three partition walls 77 are walls parallel to the right wall 74 and the left wall 75, and divide the internal space 78 into four spaces. Each of the four ink cartridges 50 is stored in each of the four divided spaces.

[Lock lever 79]
As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, the mounting case 71 is provided with a lock lever 79 that holds the ink cartridge 50 in the internal space 78. The lock lever 79 is a plate-like member extending in the front-rear direction. The central portion of the lock lever 79 is provided on the upper wall 72 so as to be rotatable around an axis in the left-right direction 9. The lock lever 79 rotates between a lock position inclined backward and an unlock position inclined forward. When no external force is applied to the lock lever 79, the lock lever 79 is tilted rearward by its own weight to be in the lock position. In the locked position, the rear end of the lock lever 79 abuts on the front surface of the abutting portion 64 of the ink cartridge 50 in the internal space 78 to restrict the ink cartridge 50 from moving forward in the front-rear direction 8. When the front end of the lock lever 79 at the lock position is pressed downward by a user's finger or the like, the lock lever 79 rotates from the lock position to the unlock position. In the unlock position, the rear end of the lock lever 79 is located above the front surface of the contact portion 64. Since the lock lever 79 at the unlock position does not contact the contact portion 64 of the ink cartridge 50 that moves forward in the front-rear direction 8, the ink cartridge 50 can be removed from the mounting case 71.

[Contact 152]
The contact 152 (an example of an interface) is located on the upper wall 72 of the mounting case 71. The contact 152 protrudes downward from the upper wall 72 toward the internal space 78 of the mounting case 71. The contact 152 is located at a position where the ink cartridge 50 is in contact with an IC chip 66 described later of the ink cartridge 50 when the ink cartridge 50 is mounted on the mounting case 71. The contact 152 has conductivity, and can be elastically deformed along the vertical direction 7. The contact 152 is electrically connected to the controller 230.

[Wearing sensor 154]
The mounting sensor 154 is located on the upper wall 72 of the mounting case 71. The mounting sensor 154 is a sensor for detecting whether or not the ink cartridge 50 is mounted on the mounting case 71. The mounting sensor 154 includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit separated in the left-right direction 9. In a state where the ink cartridge 50 is mounted on the mounting case 71, a detected part (not shown) of the ink cartridge 50 is located between the light emitting part and the light receiving part of the mounting sensor 154. In other words, the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit of the mounting sensor 154 are located opposite to each other with the detected portion of the ink cartridge 50 mounted on the mounting case 71 interposed therebetween.

  The mounting sensor 154 outputs a different signal (denoted as “mounting signal” in the figure) depending on whether or not light emitted from the light emitting unit in the left-right direction 9 is received by the light receiving unit. . The mounting sensor 154 outputs a low-level signal to the controller 230, for example, when the light receiving intensity of the light received by the light receiving unit is less than the threshold intensity. On the other hand, the mounting sensor 154 outputs a high-level signal having a signal intensity higher than the low-level signal to the controller 230 in response to the light intensity of the light received by the light receiving unit being equal to or higher than the threshold intensity. The high level signal is an example of a third signal, and the low level signal is an example of a fourth signal.

[Sub tank 100]
4 to 11 show the sub tank 100 (an example of a tank). The sub tank 100 is located below the lower wall 73 of the mounting case 71.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the sub tank 100 includes a tank main body 101 and a joint 102. Inside the tank body 101, a second storage chamber 105 (an example of a second liquid chamber) for storing ink is formed. The sub tank 100 includes a liquid channel 103 and a gas channel 104 that communicate with the second storage chamber 105. The liquid channel 103 and the gas channel 104 are formed inside the tank main body 101 and inside the joint 102. The sub-tank 100 also has an atmosphere communication port 106 (see FIGS. 9, 10 and 12A) for communicating the second storage chamber 105 to the outside.

[Liquid flow path 103 and gas flow path 104]
As shown in FIG. 7, the liquid flow path 103 and the gas flow path 104 are located in parallel.

  The liquid channel 103 has a first opening 131, a second opening 132, a vertical portion 133, and a horizontal portion 134. The first opening 131 is an opening formed on one end side (rear end side) of the liquid flow channel 103 and communicating with the second storage chamber 105. The first opening 131 is open along the up-down direction 7. The second opening 132 is an opening formed on the other end side (front end side) opposite to one end side of the liquid flow path 103 and opened to the outside. The second opening 132 is open along the front-rear direction 8. The second opening 132 is located in the first storage chamber 53 of the ink cartridge 50 when the ink cartridge 50 is mounted. The vertical portion 133 is a portion extending upward from the first opening 131 in the liquid flow path 103. The horizontal portion 134 is a portion that extends rearward from the second opening 132 in the liquid channel 103. The upper end of the vertical portion 133 is connected to the rear end of the horizontal portion 134.

  The gas flow path 104 has a third opening 141, a fourth opening 142, a vertical portion 143, and a horizontal portion 144. The third opening 141 is an opening formed at one end side (rear end side) of the gas flow path 104 and communicating with the second storage chamber 105. The third opening 141 is open along the up-down direction 7. The fourth opening 142 is an opening formed on the other end side (front end side) opposite to one end side of the gas flow path 104 and opened to the outside. The fourth opening 142 is open along the front-rear direction 8. The fourth opening 142 communicates with the first storage chamber 53 of the ink cartridge 50 when the ink cartridge 50 is mounted. The vertical portion 143 is a portion extending upward from the third opening 141 in the gas flow path 104. The horizontal portion 144 is a portion that extends rearward from the fourth opening 142 in the gas flow path 104. The upper end of the vertical part 143 is connected to the rear end of the horizontal part 144.

[Tank body 101]
The tank main body 101 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer wall. The tank body 101 has a substantially T-shape (see FIGS. 9 and 10) when viewed from the up-down direction 7, a substantially rectangular shape (see FIG. 8) when viewed from the front-rear direction 8, and an L-shape when viewed from the left-right direction 9. It is a letter shape (see FIGS. 4 to 7).

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 11, the outer wall of the tank main body 101 includes a rear upper wall 107, a bent upper wall 130, a front upper wall 108, a lower wall 109, two rear side walls 110, and two front bent side walls. 111, a rear wall 112, and a front wall 113. The rear upper wall 107 is a wall extending forward from the rear end while being inclined upward with respect to a horizontal plane. The bent upper wall 130 is a wall extending from the front end of the rear upper wall 107, and is bent upward from the front. The front upper wall 108 extends forward from the upper end of the bent upper wall 130 in parallel with a horizontal plane. The lower wall 109 extends in the front-rear direction 8 in parallel with the horizontal plane. The lower wall 109 has a T-shape when viewed from the vertical direction 7. The rear side wall 110 connects the rear upper wall 107 and the lower wall 109 in the vertical direction 7. The rear side wall 110 is substantially rectangular when viewed from the left-right direction 9. As shown in FIG. 9, the rear side wall 110 is shared by adjacent different ink tank bodies 101. The front bent side wall 111 connects the bent upper wall 130, the front upper wall 108, and the lower wall 109 in the vertical direction 7. The front bent side wall 111 has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the left-right direction 9, and has an L-shape in which a corner forms an arc when viewed from the up-down direction 7. The rear wall 112 extends upward from the rear end of the lower wall 109, and is connected to two rear side walls 110 located on the left and right and the rear upper wall 107. The front wall 113 extends upward from the front end of the lower wall 109, and is connected to two front bent side walls 111 located on the left and right.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 11, a communication port 129 communicating with the second storage chamber 105 is formed in the lower wall 109. One end of an ink tube 32 is connected to the communication port 129, and the second storage chamber 105 and the recording head 39 are connected to each other via the ink tube 32.

  A cylindrical inner cylinder 114 extending in the front-rear direction 8 is provided at the front end and upper part of the tank body 101. The inside of the inner cylindrical portion 114 communicates with an opening formed by a front wall 113, two front bent side walls 111 located on the left and right, and a front upper wall 108. The rear end of the joint 102 can be attached to the inner cylinder 114. In a mounted state in which the joint 102 is attached to the inner cylinder 114, the inside of the inner cylinder 114 communicates with the inside of the joint 102.

[Wide part 150 and narrow part 151]
As shown in FIG. 10, the tank main body 101 has a wide portion 150 and a narrow portion 151 arranged along the front-back direction 8. The wide portion 150 is located at the rear of the tank body 101 in the front-rear direction 8 and includes two rear side walls 110 and a rear wall 112. The narrow portion 151 is located at the front end of the tank body 101 in the front-rear direction 8 (an example of one end in the first direction) and includes two front bent side walls 111 and a front wall 113. The width of the narrow portion 151 in the left-right direction 9 (an example of a second direction orthogonal to the first direction) is smaller than the width of the wide portion 150 in the left-right direction 9. The second storage chamber 105 is formed over the wide part 150 and the narrow part 151.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the width of the wide portion 150 in the left-right direction 9 is substantially equal to the width of the ink cartridge 50 in the right-left direction 9. Therefore, the width of the narrow portion 151 in the left-right direction 9 is smaller than the width of the ink cartridge 50 in the left-right direction 9.

[Vertical wall 115 and horizontal wall 116]
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 11, the tank main body 101 includes a vertical wall 115 and a horizontal wall 116 at the front and upper part of the tank main body 101.

  The vertical wall 115 is a wall extending in the vertical direction 7, and is located between the front wall 113 and the bent upper wall 130 in the front-rear direction 8. The vertical wall 115 connects the two front bent side walls 111 located on the left and right, and divides a space defined by the front wall 113, the front upper wall 108, and the two front bent side walls 111 into front and rear. The lower end position of the vertical wall 115 is the position of the first opening 131 of the liquid flow path 103 in the vertical direction 7 and the position of the third opening 141 of the gas flow path 104 in the vertical direction 7. The lower end position of the vertical wall 115 is equal to the lower end position of the front end of the rear upper wall 107. That is, the upper surface of the second storage chamber 105 is defined by a virtual plane passing through the lower end position of the vertical wall 115 and parallel to the horizontal plane, and the lower surface of the rear upper wall 107.

  The horizontal wall 116 is a wall extending forward from an upper end of the vertical wall 115. The horizontal wall 116 extends to the inside of the inner cylinder 114. The horizontal wall 116 connects the two front bent side walls 111 located on the left and right, and connects the inner surface of the inner cylinder 114 in the left-right direction 9. The horizontal wall 116 vertically separates a space defined by the front upper wall 108 and the two front bent side walls 111 and a space defined by the inner cylinder 114.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the vertical portion 133 of the liquid channel 103 is formed by a vertical wall 115, a front wall 113, and two front bent side walls 111. The shape of the cross section of the vertical portion 133 of the liquid channel 103 that is orthogonal to the vertical direction 7 is rectangular. The vertical portion 133 of the liquid flow path 103 is flush with the two front bent side walls 111 that define the second storage chamber 105. Therefore, the width in the left-right direction 9 of the vertical portion 133 of the liquid flow path 103 is the same as the width in the left-right direction 9 of the second storage chamber 105 defined by the narrow portion 151.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the vertical portion 143 of the gas flow path 104 is formed by a bent upper wall 130, a vertical wall 115, and two front bent side walls 111. The shape of the cross section of the vertical portion 133 of the gas flow path 104 perpendicular to the vertical direction 7 is rectangular. The vertical portion 133 of the gas flow path 104 is flush with the two front bent side walls 111 that define the second storage chamber 105. Therefore, the width of the vertical portion 143 of the gas flow path 104 in the left-right direction 9 is the same as the width of the second storage chamber 105 defined by the narrow portion 151 in the left-right direction 9.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the length 149 along the front-rear direction 8 (an example of the horizontal direction) of the third opening 141 of the gas flow path 104 is the same as the front-rear direction 8 (horizontal direction) of the first opening 131 of the liquid flow path 103. Is longer than the length 148 along one example of the direction). The length of the third opening 141 of the gas flow path 104 along the left-right direction 9 is equal to the length of the first opening 131 of the liquid flow path 103 along the left-right direction 9. Therefore, the opening area of the third opening 141 of the gas flow path 104 is larger than the opening area of the first opening 131 of the liquid flow path 103.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in the vertical portion 143 of the gas flow path 104, the opening area of the gas flow path 104 increases as approaching the third opening 141 of the gas flow path 104. In the vertical portion 133 of the liquid channel 103, the opening area of the liquid channel 103 is constant in the vertical direction 7.

  As shown in FIG. 7, a horizontal portion 134 of the liquid flow path 103 in the tank main body 101 is formed by a front upper wall 108, a horizontal wall 116, two front bent side walls 111, and an inner cylindrical portion 114. A horizontal portion 144 of the gas flow path 104 in the tank main body 101 is formed by a horizontal wall 116, two front bent side walls 111, and an inner cylinder 114.

[First rib 117]
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 11, the tank main body 101 includes a first rib 117 that is continuous with the vertical wall 115. The first rib 117 protrudes from the front bent side wall 111 and extends downward from the vertical wall 115. The first rib 117 and the lower wall 109 are separated from each other. A first rib 117 is provided on each of the two front bent side walls 111 located on the left and right, and two first ribs 117 are located in the left and right direction 9 in one second storage chamber 105. I have.

[Liquid level sensor 155]
As shown in FIG. 7, the liquid level sensor 155 is a sensor for detecting whether or not the liquid level in the second storage chamber 105 of the tank main body 101 is equal to or higher than a predetermined position B. The predetermined position B is a position below an imaginary line L passing through the third opening 141 of the gas flow path 104 and extending in the horizontal direction. The liquid level sensor 155 uses a prism having a different reflectance depending on whether or not the ink is in contact with the predetermined position B on the rear wall 121 of the tank body 101, and the ink level at the predetermined position B in the second storage chamber 105 is determined. This is a sensor for optically detecting the liquid level.

  The liquid level sensor 155 includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit separated in the left-right direction 9. The liquid level sensor 155 outputs a different signal (referred to as a “liquid level signal” in the drawing) depending on whether or not the light output from the light emitting unit is received by the light receiving unit. In the present embodiment, when the liquid level in the second storage chamber 105 of the tank body 101 is equal to or higher than the predetermined position B, the liquid level sensor 155 outputs a low level signal. If the liquid level in the second storage chamber 105 of the tank body 101 is less than the predetermined position B, the liquid level sensor 155 outputs a high level signal. The low level signal is an example of the first signal. The high level signal is an example of the second signal.

[Joint 102]
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 9 and 11, the joint 102 includes a joint body 118, an inner wall 119, a plug member 120 (see FIGS. 6 and 7), and a spring 121 (see FIGS. 6 and 7). ing.

[Joint body 118]
As shown in FIG. 7, the joint body 118 connects the outer cylinder 122 located at the rear end, the distal end 123 located at the front end, and the outer cylinder 122 and the distal end 123. And a main body portion 124 that performs the operation. The outer cylinder part 122 has a cylindrical shape and extends in the front-rear direction 8. The outer cylinder 122 is fitted into the inner cylinder 114 of the tank body 101. Thereby, the joint main body 118 is fixed to the tank main body 101. The distal end portion 123 has a disk shape with the axis in the front-rear direction 8 as the axis. The main body 124 has a cylindrical shape, and extends in the front-rear direction 8. An upper opening 125 and a lower opening 126 that open upward and downward, respectively, are formed at the front end of the main body 124.

[Partition wall 127 and second rib 128]
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the inner wall 119 is located inside the joint main body 118. The inner wall 119 extends rearward from the distal end portion 123 beyond the outer cylindrical portion 122. The inner wall 119 includes a partition wall 127 and a second rib 128. As shown in FIG. 8, the inner wall 119 has a T-shape when viewed from the front-back direction 8. The rear end face of the partition wall 127 is in contact with the front end face of the horizontal wall 116 in the tank main body 101. The partition wall 127 and the horizontal wall 116 divide the internal space of the connection portion between the joint main body 118 and the tank main body 101 into a liquid flow path 103 and a gas flow path 104.

  The partition wall 127 is a wall that expands in the left-right direction 9 inside the joint main body 118. The partition wall 127 extends rearward from the distal end portion 123. The inner space of the joint body 118 is divided into an upper part and a lower part by a partition wall 127.

  The second rib 128 protrudes downward from a central portion of the partition wall 127 in the left-right direction 9. The second rib 128 extends rearward from the tip 123. There is a gap between the second rib 128 and the inner surface of the joint body 118.

  The horizontal portion 134 of the liquid channel 103 in the joint 102 is formed by the inner surface of the joint body 118 and the lower surface of the inner wall 119. The cross section of the horizontal portion 134 of the liquid flow path 103 in the joint 102 has a substantially semicircular shape. More precisely, in the cross section of the horizontal portion 134, the semicircular upper portion is divided into left and right by the second rib 128, and the semicircular lower portion is connected without being divided into left and right. The horizontal portion 144 of the gas flow path 104 in the joint 102 is formed by the inner surface of the joint body 118 and the upper surface of the inner wall 119. The cross section of the horizontal portion 144 of the gas flow path 104 in the joint 102 has a semicircular shape.

[Plug member 120 and spring 121]
The plug member 120 is a cylindrical member, and is located outside the main body 124 of the joint main body 118. The plug member 120 is movable in the front-rear direction 8 along the main body 124. The front end of the spring 121 is fixed to the rear end of the plug member 120, and the rear end of the spring 121 is in contact with the buffer tank 90 of the atmosphere communication unit 70 and the outer cylinder 122 of the joint body 118. The spring 121 urges the plug member 120 forward. When no external force is applied, the plug member 120 is located at the front end of the joint main body 118 and closes the upper opening 125 and the lower opening 126. When a backward external force greater than the elastic force of the spring 121 is applied to the plug member 120, the plug member 120 moves rearward, and the upper opening 125 and the lower opening 126 are opened. When the ink cartridge 50 is installed, the joint receiving portion 52 of the ink cartridge 50 comes into contact with the plug member 120. Due to the external force applied when the ink cartridge 50 is mounted, the plug member 120 abutting on the joint receiving portion 52 moves rearward.

[Mounting state of ink cartridge 50]
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, when the ink cartridge 50 is mounted on the sub tank 100, the joint main body 118 of the sub tank 100 is inserted into the joint receiving portion 52 of the ink cartridge 50 along the front-back direction 8. And is inserted into the communication port 61. In this mounting state, the second opening 132 of the liquid passage 103 and the fourth opening 142 of the gas passage 104 of the sub tank 100 have entered the first storage chamber 53 of the ink cartridge 50. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the ink cartridge 50 can be separated and attached to the sub tank 100 along the front-back direction 8.

[Layout of Ink Cartridge 50 and Sub Tank 100]
The layout of the ink cartridge 50 and the sub tank 100 will be described. The layout is described assuming that the ink cartridge 50 is mounted on the mounting case 71 and the ink cartridge 50 and the sub tank 100 are in the use posture shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the protrusion 65 of the ink cartridge 50 is located at substantially the same position as the joint 102 in the vertical direction 7, but the portion above the protrusion 65 of the ink cartridge 50 is higher than the joint 102. It is in. Therefore, most of the first storage chamber 53 of the ink cartridge 50 is located above the second opening 132. Further, the upper portion of the sub tank 100, that is, the portion above the vicinity of the bent upper wall 130 is at substantially the same position as the joint 102, but the portion below the vicinity of the bent upper wall 130 of the sub tank 100 is below the joint 102. . Therefore, most of the second storage chamber 105 of the sub tank 100 is below the third opening 141 joint 102.

  The portion above the convex portion 65 of the first storage chamber 53 is located above the horizontal portion 134 of the liquid channel 103 and the horizontal portion 144 of the gas channel 104. The second storage chamber 105 is located below the horizontal portion 134 of the liquid flow channel 103 and the horizontal portion 144 of the gas flow channel 104. The lower part of the first storage chamber 53 and the upper part of the second storage chamber 105 are arranged coaxially in the front-rear direction 8. The capacity of the first storage chamber 53 is larger than the capacity of the second storage chamber 105.

  The horizontal part 144 of the gas flow path 104 is located above the horizontal part 134 of the liquid flow path 103.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the first opening 131 of the liquid flow path 103, the third opening 141 of the gas flow path 104, and the atmosphere communication port 106 are sequentially arranged from the communication port 61 of the first storage chamber 53 toward the rear. positioned. The position in the up-down direction 7 of the communication port 61 of the first storage chamber 53 corresponds to the position in the up-down direction 7 at which the first storage chamber 53 and the liquid channel 103 communicate with each other. Is a direction away from the first storage chamber 53.

[Air communication unit 70]
As shown in FIGS. 5, 11, and 12, the atmosphere communication unit 70 includes a buffer tank 90, a communication flow path 145, and an atmosphere communication path 147.

[Buffer tank 90]
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 11, the buffer tank 90 is located below the mounting case 71 and above the sub tank 100.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 11, the buffer tank 90 includes an upper wall 91, a lower wall 92, two side walls 93, three partition walls 94, a rear wall 95, and a protruding wall 96. The upper wall 91 is a wall that extends along a plane that is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane. The lower wall 92 is a wall that extends from the rear to the front while extending parallel to the horizontal plane, and bending upward. The front end of the lower wall 92 is connected to the front end of the upper wall 91. The two side walls 93 connect both ends of the upper wall 91 and the lower wall 92 in the left-right direction 9 in the up-down direction 7, respectively. The three partition walls 94 are walls arranged in parallel with the two side walls 93 in the left-right direction 9. The rear wall 95 connects the rear ends of the upper wall 91 and the lower wall 92. The protruding wall 96 is a wall extending upward from the rear end of the upper wall 91. A gap is formed between the rear wall 95 and the protruding wall 96 in the front-rear direction 8.

  Above the upper wall 91 of the buffer tank 90, the lower wall 73 of the mounting case 71 is located. The upper wall 91 of the buffer tank 90 supports the lower wall 73 of the mounting case 71. Therefore, the upper wall 91 of the buffer tank 90 can support the ink cartridge 50 stored in the mounting case 71 via the lower wall 73 of the mounting case 71.

[Buffer room 97]
The internal space defined by the upper wall 91, the lower wall 92, the two side walls 93, and the rear wall 95 is divided into four buffer chambers 97 by three partition walls 94. The four buffer chambers 97 are connected to the four sub-tanks 100, respectively. The four buffer chambers 97 are spaces capable of storing air sent to the first storage chamber 53 as the ink in the first storage chamber 53 is supplied to the second storage chamber 105 by gas-liquid replacement. The four buffer chambers 97 are located above the recording unit 24.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the buffer chamber 97 is located below the first storage chamber 53, and the second storage chamber 105 is located below the buffer chamber 97. A part of the first storage chamber 53 and a part of the buffer chamber 97 formed in the protrusion 65 are arranged coaxially in the front-rear direction 8 (an example in the horizontal direction). Furthermore, a part of the convex part 65, a part of the joint 102, and a part of the buffer tank 90 are arranged coaxially in the front-rear direction 8 (an example in the horizontal direction). Further, a part of the first storage chamber 53 and a part of the buffer chamber 97 are arranged coaxially in the vertical direction 7.

[Communication channel 145]
As shown in FIG. 12A, the lower wall 92 of the buffer tank 90 has an opening 98 communicating with the buffer chamber 97. The ink supply device 15 includes a connection pipe 99 that connects the air communication port 106 of the tank body 101 and the opening 98 of the buffer tank 90. The connection pipe 99 has a cylindrical shape. The communication pipe 145 connecting the second storage chamber 105 and the buffer chamber 97 is formed by the inner surface of the connection pipe 99. The communication channel 145 extends in the up-down direction 7.

[Atmosphere 147]
As shown in FIG. 12B, an opening 146 is formed at the rear end of the upper wall 91 for each buffer chamber 97. The upper wall 91 has four openings 146 behind the projecting wall 96. The lower surface of the upper wall 91 is inclined upward toward the opposite side (rearward) of the opening 98 along the front-rear direction 8 (an example of a horizontal direction). The opening 146 is open to the upper wall 91 at a position where the lower surface of the upper wall 91 is highest in the vertical direction 7. Here, an atmosphere communication path 147 extending in the up-down direction 7 is formed by the front surface of the rear wall 95 and the rear surface of the protruding wall 96. The atmosphere communication passage 147 extends upward from the buffer chamber 97 via the opening 146 and communicates with the outside of the housing 14 of the multifunction device 10.

[Operation of this embodiment]
First, the flow of ink and air at the time of initial introduction when the ink cartridge 50 is first mounted on the empty subtank 100 will be described.

  In a state before the initial introduction (a front state) illustrated in FIG. 6, the ink cartridge 50 is separated from the sub tank 100. In the previous state, the communication port 61 of the ink cartridge 50 is closed by the plug member 62, and the first storage chamber 53 is closed by the ink cartridge 50. Therefore, the ink filled in the first storage chamber 53 does not leak to the outside. On the other hand, in the front state, the upper opening 125 and the lower opening 126 (see FIG. 7) of the sub tank 100 are closed by the plug member 120. Therefore, the second opening 132 of the liquid channel 103 and the second opening of the gas channel 104 communicating with the second storage chamber 105 are closed to the outside. The second storage chamber 105 has an atmosphere communication port 106 (see FIG. 7) and a communication port 129 (see FIG. 7) as parts that communicate with the outside in addition to the liquid channel 103 and the gas channel 104. The atmosphere communication port 106 communicates with the outside air of the MFP 10 via the buffer chamber 97. The communication port 129 communicates with the recording head 39 via the ink tube 32, but the ink does not flow out of the communication port 129 when the recording head 39 is at rest. Here, the second storage chamber 105 is not filled with ink, and the second storage chamber 105 is empty.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, when the ink cartridge 50 is mounted in the sub-tank 100, the plug member 62 for closing the communication port 61 is retracted forward against the urging force of the spring 63, and the upper opening is opened. The plug member 120 that closes the portion 125 and the lower opening 126 retracts rearward against the urging force of the spring 121. As a result, the first storage chamber 53 communicates with the second storage chamber 105 via the liquid flow path 103 and the gas flow path 104. Then, the ink in the first storage chamber 53 of the ink cartridge 50 naturally falls through the liquid flow path 103 and is introduced into the second storage chamber 105 of the sub tank 100. Since the air communication port 106 is open to the outside air, the same volume of air as the amount of ink introduced into the second storage chamber 105 is supplied to the first storage chamber 53 through the air communication port 106 and the gas flow path 104. Will be introduced. Thus, the ink in the first storage chamber 53 is supplied to the second storage chamber 105 by replacing the ink in the first storage chamber 53 with air (gas-liquid replacement).

  As the gas-liquid replacement proceeds, the liquid level of the ink in the second storage chamber 105 rises. When the liquid level of the ink rises and reaches the lower end position of the vertical wall 115, the third opening 141 of the gas flow path 104 is closed. Then, since the gas-liquid replacement cannot be performed, the supply of the ink from the first storage chamber 53 to the second storage chamber 105 is stopped. In this way, ink is supplied at the time of initial introduction.

  Next, the flow of ink and air when the recording operation is performed by the printer unit 11 with the ink cartridge 50 mounted will be described.

  When ink is ejected from the recording head 39 during execution of the recording operation, the ink in the second storage chamber 105 is sucked into the recording head 39 from the communication port 129. The liquid level of the ink in the second storage chamber 105 drops as the amount of ink decreases, so that the closed third opening 141 of the gas flow path 104 is opened. When the third opening 141 of the gas flow path 104 is opened, gas-liquid replacement is performed as described above, and ink is supplied from the first storage chamber 53 to the second storage chamber 105. The ink is supplied from the first storage chamber 53 to the second storage chamber 105 so as to compensate for the consumption of the ink in the recording head 39, and the height of the ink surface in the second storage chamber 105 is changed to the gas flow path 104. At the position of the third opening 141.

  When the ink in the first storage chamber 53 becomes empty, the MFP 10 continuously performs the recording operation by replacing the empty ink cartridge 50 with another ink cartridge 50 filled with ink. I can do it.

[Controller 230]
As shown in FIG. 6, the controller 230 includes a CPU 231, a ROM 232, a RAM 233, an EEPROM 234, and an ASIC 235. The ROM 232 stores programs for the CPU 231 to control various operations. The RAM 233 is used as a storage area for temporarily recording data, signals, and the like used when the CPU 231 executes the program, or as a work area for data processing. The EEPROM 234 stores setting information to be retained even after the power is turned off. The ROM 232, the RAM 233, and the EEPROM 234 are examples of the device memory.

  The ASIC 235 operates the feed roller 25, the transport roller 34, the discharge roller 36, and the recording head 39. The controller 230 rotates the feed roller 25, the transport roller 34, and the discharge roller 36 by driving a motor (not shown) through the ASIC 235. Further, the controller 230 outputs a drive signal to a drive element of the print head 39 through the ASIC 235 to cause the print head 39 to eject ink through the nozzle 40. The ASIC 235 can output a plurality of types of drive signals in accordance with the amount of ink to be ejected through the nozzle 40.

  The display 17 and the operation panel 22 are connected to the ASIC 235.

  Further, to the ASIC 235, a contact 152, a cover sensor 88, a cover sensor 154, and a liquid level sensor 155 are electrically connected. The controller 230 accesses the memory of the IC chip 66 of the ink cartridge 50 mounted on the mounting case 71 through the contact 152. The controller 230 detects the position of the cover 48 through the cover sensor 88. The controller 230 detects the ink cartridge 50 mounted on the mounting case 71 based on the detection signal of the mounting sensor 154. Further, the controller 230 detects through the liquid level sensor 155 whether or not the liquid level of the ink in the second storage chamber 105 is equal to or higher than the predetermined position B.

  When the liquid level sensor 155 outputs a high-level signal, the ROM 232 stores a predetermined ink amount Vsc (an example of a fixed value A) stored in the second storage chamber 105 of the sub tank 100 and the first ink amount of the ink cartridge 50. The predetermined ink amount Vcc stored in the storage chamber 53 is stored. The predetermined ink amount Vcc is zero in the present embodiment.

The EEPROM 234 stores various types of information in association with each of the four ink cartridges 50 mounted in the mounting case 71, in other words, in association with each of the sub-tanks 100 that are communicated with the ink cartridges 50. Including the various information, for example, ink amount Vc, and Vs is an example of a liquid volume, the volume _{V th,} and C_Empty flags, and S_Empty flag, the count value SN, and the count value TN, and the threshold value _{N th,} the .

The ink amount Vc and the identification information are information read by the controller 230 from the memory of the IC chip 66 through the contact 152 in a state where the ink cartridge 50 is mounted on the mounting case 71. The volume _Vth may be stored in the ROM 232 instead of the EEPROM 234.

The ink amount Vc indicates the amount of ink stored in the first storage chamber 53 of the ink cartridge 50. The ink amount Vs indicates the amount of ink stored in the second storage chamber 105 of the sub tank 100. The ink amounts Vc and Vs are calculated based on, for example, the volume _Vth . When there is ink that can flow out to the sub-tank 100 in the first storage chamber 53 of the ink cartridge 50, the liquid level of the ink in the second storage chamber 105 of the sub-tank 100 includes the third opening 141 of the gas flow path 104. This is the position of the line L. This state is called an equilibrium state. That is, in the equilibrium state, the movement of the ink between the first storage chamber 53 and the second storage chamber 105 stops. The ink amount Vs in the equilibrium state is a volume _Vth of the second storage chamber 105 below the virtual line L. Therefore, when the total ink amount Vt is calculated, the ink amount Vs and the ink amount Vc are obtained. That is, if the total amount Vt is equal to or larger than the volume _Vth , the ink amount Vs is the volume _Vth , and the ink amount Vc is an amount obtained by subtracting the volume _Vth from the total amount Vt. If the total amount Vt is less than the volume _Vth , the ink amount Vs is equal to the total amount Vt, and the ink amount Vc is zero. Further, the ink amounts Vc and Vs may be obtained from a table associated with each total amount Vt without using the volume _Vth .

After the signal output from the liquid level sensor 155 changes from the low level signal to the high level signal, the count value SN is the ink discharge amount Dh instructing the recording head 39 to discharge (that is, the ink amount indicated by the drive signal). a value corresponding to a value which is updated in a direction approaching the threshold N _th. The count value SN is a value that is counted up by setting the initial value to “0”. The threshold N _th corresponds to the volume of the second storage chamber 105 between the upper end and near the predetermined position B of the communication port 129. However, the count value SN may be a value that is counted down with a value corresponding to this volume as an initial value. Threshold _{N th} in this case is 0. The count value SN is an example of a second count value.

  After the signal output from the cover sensor 88 changes from a high level signal to a low level signal, the count value TN becomes equal to the ink discharge amount Dh instructing the recording head 39 to discharge (that is, the ink amount indicated by the drive signal). This is a value that is counted up by setting the initial value to “0”. Further, the count value TN may be a value that is counted down with an initial value being a value corresponding to the total amount Vt of ink. The count value TN is an example of a first count value.

  The C_Empty flag is information indicating whether the ink cartridge 50 is in a cartridge empty state. The value “ON” corresponding to the cartridge empty state or the value “OFF” corresponding to the non-cartridge empty state is set in the C_Empty flag. The cartridge empty state is a state in which ink is not substantially stored in the ink cartridge 50 (more specifically, the first storage chamber 53). In other words, the cartridge empty state is a state in which ink does not move from the connected first storage chamber 53 to the second storage chamber 105. In other words, the cartridge empty state is a state in which the liquid level of the sub tank 100 connected to the ink cartridge 50 is lower than the predetermined position B.

The S_Empty flag is information indicating whether the sub tank 100 is in an ink empty state. In the S_Empty flag, a value “ON” corresponding to the ink empty state or a value “OFF” corresponding to the non-ink empty state is set. The inempty state is, for example, a state in which the liquid level of the ink stored in the sub tank 100 (more specifically, the second storage chamber 105) reaches a position near the upper end of the communication port 129. In other words, the ink empty state is a state in which the count value SN1 is equal to or _larger than the threshold value Nth1. If the ink discharge by the recording head 39 is continued after entering the inceptive state, the liquid level of the ink in the sub-tank 100 falls below the upper end of the communication port 129, and the ink flow path from the sub-tank 100 to the recording head 39 or There is a possibility that air enters the recording head 39 (so-called air-in). As a result, the inside of the nozzle 40 is not filled with the ink, and there is a possibility that the ink is not ejected.

[Operation of MFP 10]
The operation of the MFP 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Each process shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 is executed by the CPU 231 of the controller 230. Note that each of the following processes may be executed by the CPU 231 by reading out a program stored in the ROM 232 or by a hardware circuit mounted on the controller 230. Further, the execution order of each of the following processes can be appropriately changed without changing the gist of the present invention.

[Image recording process]
The controller 230 executes the image recording process shown in FIG. 14 in response to a recording instruction being input to the multifunction device 10. The recording instruction is an example of a first ejection instruction and a second ejection instruction for causing the MFP 10 to execute a recording process of recording an image represented by image data on a sheet. The acquisition destination of the recording instruction is not particularly limited. For example, a user operation corresponding to the recording instruction may be received through the operation panel 22 or may be received from an external device through a communication interface (not shown).

  First, the controller 230 determines the set value of each of the four S_Empty flags (S11). Then, in response to determining that at least one of the four S_Empty flags is set to “ON” (S11: ON), the controller 230 causes the display 17 to display an S_Empty notification screen (S12). The S_Empty notification screen is a screen for notifying the user that the corresponding subtank 100 is in the ink empty state and the ink cannot be discharged through the recording head 39. The S_Empty notification screen may include, for example, information indicating the color of the ink stored in the sub-tank 100 in the ink empty state and the ink amounts Vc and Vs. In step S12, the controller 230 displays the C_Empty notification screen on the display 17 together with the S_Empty notification screen in response to determining that at least one of the four C_Empty flags is set to “ON”. May be.

  Further, the controller 230 executes the processing of S13 to S19 for each of the ink cartridges 50 corresponding to the S_Empty flag for which “ON” is set. That is, the processes of S13 to S19 are executed for each of the four ink cartridges 50 whose corresponding S_Empty flag is set to “ON”. Since the processes of S13 to S19 for each ink cartridge 50 are common, only the processes of S13 to S19 corresponding to one ink cartridge 50 will be described.

  First, the controller 230 acquires a signal output from the mounting sensor 154 (S13). Next, the controller 230 determines whether the signal acquired from the mounting sensor 154 is a high-level signal or a low-level signal (S14). Then, the controller 230 performs S13 at predetermined time intervals until the signal output from the mounting sensor 154 changes from the low-level signal to the high-level signal, and again changes from the high-level signal to the low-level signal (S14: No). , S14 are repeatedly executed. In other words, the controller 230 repeatedly executes the processing of S13 and S14 until the ink cartridge 50 is removed from the mounting case 71 and the new ink cartridge 50 is mounted on the mounting case 71.

  Then, the controller 230 obtains a low-level signal from the mounting sensor 154, thereafter obtains a high-level signal from the mounting sensor 154, and further obtains a low-level signal from the mounting sensor 154 (S14: Yes), the processing shown in S15 is executed. That is, the controller 230 reads out the identification information and the ink amount Vc from the IC chip 66 of the ink cartridge 50 through the contact point 152 and stores them in the EEPROM 234 (S15). At this time, the controller 230 updates the ink amount Vc stored in the EEPROM 234 with the ink amount Vc read from the IC chip 66.

  Further, the controller 230 calculates the total amount Vt after the replacement of the cartridge (S16). Specifically, the controller 230 calculates the ink amount Vs before the cartridge replacement based on the count value SN before the cartridge replacement stored in the EEPROM 234 and the ink amount Vsc stored in the ROM 232 (Vs = Vsc-SN) and stored in the EEPROM 234. Note that the ink amount Vs before the cartridge replacement is equal to the total amount Vt before the cartridge replacement. Then, based on the calculated ink amount Vs and the ink amount Vc read from the memory of the IC chip 66 of the ink cartridge 50 after the replacement, the total amount Vt after the replacement of the cartridge is calculated. That is, when the ink cartridge 50 is replaced, the new ink cartridge 50 is added to the ink amount Vs (= Vsc-SN) of the ink stored in the second storage chamber 105 of the sub tank 100 immediately before the replacement of the ink cartridge 50. The ink amount Vc stored in the first storage chamber 53 is added. Therefore, the controller 230 calculates the sum of the ink amount Vc read from the IC chip 66 of the replaced ink cartridge 50 and the ink amount Vs before the cartridge replacement stored in the EEPROM 234 as the total amount Vt (Vt = Vs + Vc).

Then, based on the calculated total amount Vt and the volume _Vth read from the EEPROM 234, the controller 230 calculates the ink amount Vc and the ink amount Vs when the ink level in the second storage chamber 105 reaches the virtual line L. It is calculated (S16). When the cartridge is replaced, the ink stored in the first storage chamber 53 of the new ink cartridge 50 flows into the second storage chamber 105 of the sub tank 100 through the liquid flow path 103. As a result, the ink amount Vc in the first storage chamber 53 decreases, and the ink amount Vs in the second storage room 105 increases. Then, the liquid level of the ink in the second storage chamber 105 of the sub tank 100 reaches the imaginary line L, and becomes in an equilibrium state.

The controller 230 determines whether the calculated total amount Vt is _{equal to} or _larger than the volume _Vth . For example, when a new ink cartridge 50 is mounted in the mounting case 71, the total amount Vt is _{equal to} or _larger than the volume _Vth . If the total amount Vt is equal to or larger than the volume _Vth , the controller 230 determines the volume _Vth as the ink amount Vs. Then, the controller 230 stores the calculated ink amount Vc in the EEPROM 234 (S17). At this time, the controller 230 updates the ink amount Vs stored in the EEPROM 234 with the determined ink amount Vs. The controller 230 stores the calculated ink amount Vc in the memory of the IC chip 66 through the contact point 152 (S17). At this time, the controller 230 updates the ink amount Vc stored in the memory of the IC chip 66 with the calculated ink amount Vc.

  Subsequently, the controller 230 determines whether the signal received from the liquid level sensor 155 has changed from a high level signal to a low level signal (S18). When a new ink cartridge 50 is mounted in the mounting case 71, ink flows from the first storage chamber 53 of the ink cartridge 50 to the second storage chamber 105 of the sub tank 100. Then, when the liquid level of the ink in the second storage chamber 105 reaches the predetermined position B, the signal output by the liquid level sensor 155 changes from a high level signal to a low level signal. If the signal received from the liquid level sensor 155 remains at the high level signal (S18: No), the controller 230 repeats the determination at S18 until a low level signal is received. That is, the controller 230 waits until the ink level in the second storage chamber 105 rises to the predetermined position B.

  The controller 230 sets the S_Empty flag and the C_Empty flag to “OFF” in response to determining that the signal received from the liquid level sensor 155 has changed from the high level signal to the low level signal (S18: Yes). In addition, the controller 230 deletes the displayed one of the S_Empty notification screen and the C_Empty notification screen from the display 17 (S19). Further, the controller 230 displays the calculated ink amount Vc and the calculated ink amount Vs on the display 17. Note that the controller 230 may display the calculated total amount Vt on the display 17. The display of the total amount Vt and the ink amounts Vc and Vs may be displayed by numerical values, or may be displayed by an image such as a bar index. Further, it is not always necessary to display both the ink amount Vc and the ink amount Vs, and at least a part thereof, for example, only the ink amount Vc may be displayed. Then, the controller 230 executes the processing after S11 again.

  If all the S_Empty flags respectively corresponding to all the ink cartridges 50 are not “ON”, that is, if they are “OFF”, the controller 230 acquires the signals currently output from each of the four liquid level sensors 155. (S20). Further, in S20, the controller 230 causes the RAM 233 to store information indicating that the signal acquired from the liquid level sensor 155 is either a high level signal or a low level signal.

  Then, the controller 230 records the image indicated by the image data included in the recording instruction on one sheet (S21). More specifically, the controller 230 causes the sheet on the feed tray 20 to be conveyed to the feed roller 25 and the conveying roller 34, causes the recording head 39 to discharge ink, and discharges the sheet on which the image is recorded to the discharge roller 36. The sheet is discharged to the tray 21. That is, the controller 230 permits discharge of ink through the recording head 39 when "OFF" is set in all four S_Empty flags. On the other hand, when at least one of the four S_Empty flags is set to “ON”, the controller 230 inhibits discharge of ink through the recording head 39.

  Next, in response to recording the image on one sheet in accordance with the recording instruction, the controller 230 acquires the signals currently output from each of the four liquid level sensors 155 (S22). Further, similarly to S20, the controller 230 causes the RAM 233 to store information indicating that the signal acquired from the liquid level sensor 155 is either a high-level signal or a low-level signal (S22). Then, the controller 230 executes a count process (S23). The count process is a process of updating the count values TN, SN, C_Empty flag, and S_Empty flag based on the signal acquired from the liquid level sensor 155 in S20 and S22. Details of the counting process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Next, the controller 230 repeatedly executes the processing of S11 to S24 until all the images indicated by the recording instruction are recorded on one sheet (S24: Yes). Then, the controller 230 determines the set value of each of the four S_Empty flags and the set value of each of the four C_Empty flags in response to recording all the images indicated by the recording instruction on one sheet (S24: No). (S25, S26).

  The controller 230 displays an S_Empty notification screen on the display 17 in response to “ON” being set in at least one of the four S_Empty flags (S27) (S27). Further, the controller 230 responds to the fact that “OFF” is set in all four S_Empty flags and “ON” is set in at least one of the four C_Empty flags (S25: OFF & S26: ON). ), A C_Empty notification screen is displayed on the display 17 (S28). The processing of S25 and S26 is an example of operating the alarm.

  The S_Empty notification screen displayed in S27 may be the same as that in S12. The C_Empty notification screen is a screen for notifying the user that the ink cartridge 50 corresponding to the C_Empty flag for which “ON” is set is in the cartridge empty state. The C_Empty notification screen may include, for example, information indicating the color of the ink stored in the ink cartridge 50 in the cartridge empty state and the ink amounts Vc and Vs. On the other hand, the controller 230 ends the image recording process in response to “OFF” being set to all of the four S_Empty flags and the four C_Empty flags (S26: OFF).

  Note that a specific example of the ejection instruction is not limited to the recording instruction, and may be a maintenance instruction or the like for instructing maintenance of the nozzle 40 such as purging. The controller 230 executes the same processing as in FIG. 14 in response to, for example, acquiring a maintenance instruction through the operation panel 22. Differences from the above-described processing when a maintenance instruction is acquired are as follows. First, the controller 230 drives a maintenance mechanism (not shown) to discharge ink through the nozzles 40 in S21. Further, the controller 230 executes the processing after S24 without executing the processing of S24 after executing the count processing.

[Counting process]
Next, the details of the counting process executed by the controller 230 in S23 will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the controller 230 executes the counting process independently for each of the four ink cartridges 50. Since the counting process for each ink cartridge 50 is common, only the counting process corresponding to one ink cartridge 50 will be described.

  First, the controller 230 compares the information indicating the signal of the liquid level sensor 155 stored in the RAM 233 in S20 and S22 (S31). That is, the controller 230 determines whether or not the signals of the four liquid level sensors 155 have changed before and after performing the process of S21 immediately before performing the count process (S23).

  The controller 230 responds to the information stored in the RAM 233 in S20 and S22 both indicating a low level signal (that is, the output of the liquid level sensor 155 has not changed before and after the processing of S21) (S31: L → L), the count value TN is updated (S32). That is, the controller 230 counts up the count value TN by a value corresponding to the ink amount instructed to be discharged in S21 immediately before.

Further, the controller 230 calculates the current total amount Vt (S33). First, the controller 230 calculates the total amount Vt after the cartridge replacement, which is the sum of the ink amount Vc and the ink amount Vs stored in the EEPROM 234 after the cartridge replacement. Then, the controller 230 calculates the current total amount Vt as a value obtained by subtracting the ink amount corresponding to the count value TN from the calculated total amount Vt (Vt = Vt−TN). Then, the controller 230 obtains the ink amounts Vc and Vs based on the calculated total amount Vt and the volume _Vth (S33).

The controller 230 determines whether the calculated current total amount Vt is _{equal to} or _larger than the volume _Vth . If the current total amount Vt is equal to or larger than the volume _Vth , the controller 230 determines the volume _Vth as the ink amount Vs. On the other hand, if the current total amount Vt is less than the volume _Vth , the controller 230 determines the current total amount Vt as the ink amount Vs.

  Subsequently, the controller 230 displays either one of the calculated ink amount Vc and the calculated ink amount Vs and one of the calculated total amount Vt on the display 17 (S34). Further, the controller 230 updates the ink amount Vc stored in the memory of the IC chip 66 of the ink cartridge 50 with the calculated ink amount Vc (S35).

  Further, the controller 230 indicates that the information stored in the RAM 233 in S20 indicates a low level signal, and the information stored in the RAM 233 in S22 indicates a high level signal (that is, the output of the liquid level sensor 155 before and after the processing of S21). Is changed (S31: L → H), “ON” is substituted for the C_Empty flag (S36) .The output of the liquid level sensor 155 changes from the low level signal to the high level signal in FIG. As shown in (2), this corresponds to the fact that the liquid level in the second storage chamber 105 has reached the predetermined position B during the processing in S21, and thereafter, the ink moves between the ink cartridge 50 and the sub tank 100. do not do.

  Further, the controller 230 reads the predetermined ink amount Vcc (= 0) from the ROM 232, and sets the ink amount Vc to the predetermined ink amount Vcc (S37). Similarly, the controller 230 reads the predetermined ink amount Vsc (corresponding to the volume of the second storage chamber 105 below the predetermined position B) from the ROM 232, and sets the ink amount Vs to the predetermined ink amount Vsc (S37). Since the ink amounts Vc and Vs calculated in the remaining amount updating process include an error, the controller 230 changes the ink amount Vc to the predetermined ink amount at the timing when the output of the liquid level sensor 155 changes from the low level signal to the high level signal. Vcc and the ink amount Vs as the predetermined ink amount Vsc to reset the accumulated error. Further, the controller 230 calculates the current total amount Vt as the same value as the ink amount Vs (Vt = Vsc) (S37). When the ink amount Vc becomes zero, the total amount Vt becomes the same value as the ink amount Vs.

  Then, the controller 230 displays either one of the current ink amount Vc and the ink amount Vs and the current total amount Vt on the display 17. Further, the controller 230 overwrites the ink amount Vc stored in the memory of the IC chip 66 of the ink cartridge 50 with the above-described ink amount Vc (= 0) (S39). The information of the ink amount Vc = 0 stored in the memory of the IC chip 66 is an example of the used information.

  Note that the output of the liquid level sensor 155 changes during the processing of S21. Accordingly, the predetermined ink amount Vsc read in S37 is not exactly the amount of ink stored in the sub tank 100 at the moment when the output of the liquid level sensor 155 changes, but the output of the liquid level sensor 155 changes. This indicates the amount of ink immediately before the printing. However, since the difference between these ink amounts is small, the predetermined ink amount Vsc read in S37 is approximately treated as the ink amount Vs at the time when the output of the liquid level sensor 155 changes.

  Further, the controller 230 counts up the count value SN stored in the EEPROM 234 by a value corresponding to the ink amount instructed to be discharged in the immediately preceding S21 (S40). In other words, the controller 230 starts updating the count value SN in response to the output of the liquid level sensor 155 changing from a low level signal to a high level signal. Further, the controller 230 counts up the count value TN stored in the EEPROM 234 by a value corresponding to the ink amount instructed to be discharged in S21 immediately before.

  Then, the controller 230 calculates the ink amount Vs (S41). The calculated ink amount Vs is a value obtained by subtracting the ink amount corresponding to the count value SN stored in the EEPROM 234 from the predetermined ink amount Vsc stored in the ROM 232. Note that, as described above, after the output of the liquid level sensor 155 becomes a high level signal, the ink amount Vs has the same value as the current total amount Vt. The ink amount Vc is zero.

  Then, the controller 230 displays one of the calculated current ink amount Vc and the calculated ink amount Vs and the calculated current total amount Vt on the display 17 (S42). After the output of the liquid level sensor 155 becomes a high level signal, the ink amount Vc is zero. Therefore, the controller 230 needs to update the ink amount Vc stored in the memory of the IC chip 66 of the ink cartridge 50. Absent.

Next, the controller 230 compares the count value SN updated in S40, the threshold _{N th} (S43). The controller 230, in response to the count value SN updated in S40 is determined as less than the threshold _{N th} (S43: No), ends the counting process. Meanwhile, the controller 230, in response to the count value SN updated in S40 is judged that it more threshold _{N th} (S43: Yes), substitutes "ON" to S_Empty flag (S44). Then, the controller 230 prohibits the discharge of the ink through the recording head 39 in response to the setting of the ON flag in the S_Empty flag, and ends the counting process.

  Further, the controller 230 reads the count value SN stored in the EEPROM 234 in response to the information stored in the RAM 233 in S20 and S22 both indicating a high level signal (S31: H → H). Then, the controller 230 counts up the read count value SN with a value corresponding to the ink amount instructed to be discharged in S21 immediately before, and stores the count value in the EEPROM 234 again. That is, the controller 230 updates the count value SN (S40). The controller 230 also updates the count value TN. Next, the controller 230 executes the above-described processing of S41 to S44 using the count value SN updated in S40.

[Operation and Effect of First Embodiment]
According to the first embodiment, the ink amounts Vc and Vs can be obtained from the current total amount Vt using the volume _Vth . Further, in response to the liquid level sensor 155 outputting the high level signal, the total amount Vt can be updated to the predetermined ink amount Vsc to correct the total amount Vt. Then, the ink amounts Vc and Vs can be determined from the corrected total amount Vt. Further, it is possible to determine the timing when the ink is no longer supplied from the first storage chamber 53 of the ink cartridge 50 to the second storage chamber 105 of the sub tank 100, and the ink amount Vs thereafter. The value updated to the predetermined ink amount Vsc may be the ink amount Vs instead of the total amount Vt. This is because when the liquid level sensor 155 outputs a high level signal, ink does not move from the first storage chamber 53 to the second storage chamber 105, and the total amount Vt becomes the same value as the ink amount Vs.

  Further, the controller 230 displays a C_Empty notification screen indicating that the cartridge needs to be replaced on the display 17, so that the user can be notified that the ink cartridge 50 needs to be replaced.

  Further, since the ink amount Vc is stored in the memory of the IC chip 66, even if the ink cartridge 50 in which the ink has been consumed is taken out of the mounting case 71, the ink in the first storage chamber 53 of the taken out ink cartridge 50 is stored. The amount Vc can be read from the IC chip 66. Then, when the ink cartridge 50 in which the ink has been consumed is mounted on the mounting case 71, the ink amount Vc is read from the IC chip 66, and the total amount Vt is calculated.

  Further, since the ink amount Vc = 0 is stored in the memory of the IC chip 66, it can be determined that the ink cartridge 50 does not store ink.

[Second embodiment]
Hereinafter, the second embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 17, the configuration of the multifunction peripheral 10 according to the second embodiment is similar to that of the multifunction peripheral 10 except that the multifunction peripheral 10 has a temperature sensor 89 and the controller 230 receives a signal output from the temperature sensor 89. Since it is the same as the first embodiment, a detailed description is omitted here. Hereinafter, the operation of the MFP 10 according to the second embodiment will be described.

[Image recording process]
The controller 230 executes the image recording process shown in FIG. 18 in response to a recording instruction being input to the multifunction device 10. The recording instruction is an example of a discharge instruction for causing the MFP 10 to execute a recording process of recording an image represented by image data on a sheet. The method for acquiring the recording instruction is not particularly limited. For example, a user operation corresponding to the recording instruction may be received through the operation panel 22 or may be received from an external device through a communication interface (not shown).

  First, the controller 230 determines the set value of the S_Empty flag of each of the four ink cartridges 50 (S51). Then, in response to determining that at least one of the S_Empty flags of the four ink cartridges 50 is set to “ON” (S51: ON), the controller 230 causes the display 17 to display the S_Empty notification screen. (S52). The S_Empty notification screen is a screen for notifying the user that the corresponding subtank 100 is in the ink empty state and the ink cannot be discharged through the recording head 39. The S_Empty notification screen may include, for example, information indicating the color of the ink stored in the sub-tank 100 in the ink empty state and the ink amounts Vc and Vs. In step S52, the controller 230 determines that at least one of the C_Empty flags of the four ink cartridges 50 is set to “ON”, and sets the C_Empty notification screen together with the S_Empty notification screen. The information may be displayed on the display 17. Displaying the S_Empty notification screen on the display 17 in S52 is an example of causing the notification device to notify the first notification.

  FIG. 20A shows an example of the S_Empty notification screen. The S_Empty notification screen in the illustrated example has an object 251, an object 252, and an object 253. The object 251 indicates that replacement of the ink cartridge 50 is urged, and has a character string “Please replace the ink cartridge”. The object 252 indicates the type of the ink cartridge 50 to be replaced, and has a letter “M” indicating magenta in the illustrated example. The object 253 indicates the empty ink cartridge 50.

  Further, the controller 230 executes the processing of S53 to S62 for each of the ink cartridges 50 corresponding to the S_Empty flag for which “ON” is set. That is, the processing of S53 to S62 is executed for each of the four ink cartridges 50 whose corresponding S_Empty flag is set to “ON”. Since the processes of S53 to S62 for each ink cartridge 50 are common, only the processes of S53 to S59 corresponding to one ink cartridge 50 will be described.

  First, the controller 230 receives a signal output from the mounting sensor 154 (S53). Next, the controller 230 determines whether the signal received from the mounting sensor 154 has changed from a high-level signal to a low-level signal (S54). Then, the controller 230 performs the processing of S53 and S54 at predetermined time intervals until the signal output from the mounting sensor 154 changes from the low level signal to the high level signal and changes again from the high level signal to the low level signal. It is repeatedly executed (S54: No). In other words, the controller 230 repeatedly executes the processing of S53 and S54 until the ink cartridge 50 is removed from the mounting case 71 and the new ink cartridge 50 is mounted on the mounting case 71.

  Then, the controller 230 receives the low-level signal from the mounting sensor 154, subsequently receives the high-level signal from the mounting sensor 154, and further receives the low-level signal from the mounting sensor 154 (S54: Yes), the identification information, the type information, and the ink amount Vc are read from the IC chip 66 of the ink cartridge 50 through the contact point 152, and stored in the EEPROM 234 (S55). At this time, the controller 230 updates the ink amount Vc stored in the EEPROM 234 with the ink amount Vc read from the IC chip 66.

  Next, the controller 230 deletes the S_Empty notification screen from the display 17, and displays the ink inflow screen on the display 17 (S56). The ink inflow screen is a screen for notifying the user that ink is flowing from the ink cartridge 50 to the sub tank 100. Displaying the screen while the ink is flowing on the display 17 is an example of causing the alarm to notify the third notification.

  FIG. 20B shows an example of a screen during ink flow. The screen during ink inflow in the illustrated example has an object 254 and an object 255. The object 254 indicates that the ink is flowing from the ink cartridge 50 to the sub tank 100, and has a character string of “the ink in the cartridge (1) is being transferred to the main body (2)”. The object 255 indicates the simplified ink cartridge 50 and the sub tank 100 in the multifunction peripheral 10.

  Subsequently, the controller 230 determines whether the signal received from the liquid level sensor 155 has changed from a high level signal to a low level signal (S57). When a new ink cartridge 50 is mounted in the mounting case 71, ink flows from the first storage chamber 53 of the ink cartridge 50 to the second storage chamber 105 of the sub tank 100. Then, when the liquid level of the ink in the second storage chamber 105 reaches the predetermined position B, the signal output by the liquid level sensor 155 changes from a high level signal to a low level signal. If the signal received from the liquid level sensor 155 remains a high level signal (S57: No), the controller 230 executes a process for determining the elapsed time T (S58).

  The controller 230 selects and reads the predetermined time ST from the ROM 232 based on the type information read from the IC chip 66 of the ink cartridge 50 in S55, and stores the selected time ST in the RAM 233. Subsequently, the controller 230 receives the signal from the temperature sensor 89 and corrects the predetermined time ST stored in the RAM 233 based on the temperature t indicated by the received signal and the temperature correction information stored in the ROM 232. I do. Specifically, the controller 230 calculates the correction amount Δ based on the temperature correction information (Δ = p × t + q, p and q are constants), adds the correction amount Δ to the predetermined time ST, and calculates the corrected predetermined time ST. It is calculated and stored in the RAM 233.

  Next, the controller 230 receives the low-level signal from the mounting sensor 154, then receives the high-level signal from the mounting sensor 154, and further receives the low-level signal from the mounting sensor 154 (S54: Yes). ) Determine the elapsed time T up to the present. For example, the controller 230 causes the RAM 233 to store the time at which the low-level signal was received after receiving the high-level signal from the mounting sensor 154, and determines the elapsed time T based on the time and the current time. Note that the elapsed time T may be determined based on the time indicated by the timer when a low-level signal is received after receiving the high-level signal from the mounting sensor 154 and the timer is started.

  The controller 230 determines whether the determined elapsed time T has exceeded the predetermined time ST (S58). If the controller 230 determines that the elapsed time T has not exceeded the predetermined time ST (S58: No), the controller 230 repeats the determinations of S57 and S58 until a low-level signal is received or the predetermined time ST is exceeded. That is, the controller 230 waits until the liquid level of the ink in the second storage chamber 105 rises to the predetermined position B or the predetermined time ST has elapsed since the ink cartridge 50 was mounted.

  When determining that the determined elapsed time T has exceeded the predetermined time ST (S58: Yes), the controller 230 deletes the ink inflow screen from the display 17, and displays the S_Empty notification screen on the display 17 (S59). The S_Empty notification screen displayed in S59 may be the same as S52, or may be a different screen. Then, the controller 230 executes the processing after S51 again. Displaying the S_Empty notification screen on the display 17 in S59 is an example of causing the notification device to notify the fourth notification.

  The controller 230 calculates the total amount Vt after the replacement of the cartridge in response to the determination that the signal received from the liquid level sensor 155 has changed from the high level signal to the low level signal (S57: Yes) (S60). Specifically, the controller 230 calculates the ink amount Vs before the cartridge replacement based on the count value SN before the cartridge replacement stored in the EEPROM 234 and the ink amount Vsc stored in the ROM 232 (Vs = Vsc-SN) and stored in the EEPROM 234. Note that the ink amount Vs before the cartridge replacement is equal to the total amount Vt before the cartridge replacement. Then, based on the calculated ink amount Vs and the ink amount Vc read from the memory of the IC chip 66 of the ink cartridge 50 after the replacement, the total amount Vt after the cartridge replacement is calculated (Vt = Vs + Vc). When the ink cartridge 50 is replaced, the new ink cartridge 50 is added to the ink amount Vs (= Vsc-SN) of the ink stored in the second storage chamber 105 of the sub tank 100 immediately before the replacement of the ink cartridge 50. A part of the ink amount Vc stored in the first storage chamber 53 is added.

Then, based on the calculated total amount Vt and the volume _Vth read from the EEPROM 234, the controller 230 determines the ink amount Vc and the ink amount when the movement of the ink from the first storage chamber 53 to the second storage chamber 105 is completed. Vs is calculated (S60). When the cartridge is replaced, the ink stored in the first storage chamber 53 of the new ink cartridge 50 flows into the second storage chamber 105 of the sub tank 100 through the liquid flow path 103. As a result, the ink amount Vc in the first storage chamber 53 decreases, and the ink amount Vs in the second storage room 105 increases. Then, the liquid level of the ink in the second storage chamber 105 of the sub-tank 100 reaches the imaginary line L, and becomes in an equilibrium state.

The controller 230 determines whether the calculated total amount Vt is _{equal to} or _larger than the volume _Vth . For example, when a new ink cartridge 50 is mounted in the mounting case 71, the total amount Vt is _{equal to} or _larger than the volume _Vth . If the total amount Vt is equal to or larger than the volume _Vth , the controller 230 determines the volume _Vth as the ink amount Vs. Then, the controller 230 stores the calculated ink amount Vc in the EEPROM 234 (S61). At this time, the controller 230 updates the ink amount Vs stored in the EEPROM 234 with the calculated ink amount Vs. Further, the controller 230 stores the calculated ink amount Vc in the memory of the IC chip 66 through the contact point 152 (S61). At this time, the controller 230 updates the ink amount Vc stored in the memory of the IC chip 66 with the calculated ink amount Vc.

  Subsequently, the controller 230 sets the S_Empty flag and the C_Empty flag to “OFF”. Further, the controller 230 deletes the displayed S_Empty notification screen and C_Empty notification screen from the display 17 (S62). Further, the controller 230 displays the calculated ink amount Vc and the calculated ink amount Vs on the display 17. Note that the controller 230 may display the calculated total amount Vt on the display 17. The display of the total amount Vt and the ink amounts Vc and Vs may be displayed by numerical values, or may be displayed by an image such as a bar index. Further, it is not always necessary to display both the ink amount Vc and the ink amount Vs, and at least a part thereof, for example, only the ink amount Vc may be displayed. Then, the controller 230 executes the processing after S51 again.

  If all the S_Empty flags respectively corresponding to all the ink cartridges 50 are not “ON”, that is, if all the S_Empty flags are “OFF” (S51: OFF), the controller 230 outputs from each of the four liquid level sensors 155 at present. The received signal is received (S63). Further, in S63, the controller 230 causes the RAM 233 to store information indicating that the signal received from the liquid level sensor 155 is either a high level signal or a low level signal.

  Then, the controller 230 records the image indicated by the image data included in the recording instruction on one sheet (S64). More specifically, the controller 230 causes the sheet on the feed tray 20 to be conveyed to the feed roller 25 and the conveying roller 34, causes the recording head 39 to discharge ink, and discharges the sheet on which the image is recorded to the discharge roller 36. The sheet is discharged to the tray 21. That is, when “OFF” is set to all of the four S_Empty flags (S51: OFF), the controller 230 executes the process of S64. That is, discharge of ink through the recording head 39 is permitted. On the other hand, when at least one of the four S_Empty flags is set to “ON” (S51: ON), the controller 230 does not execute the processing of S24. That is, discharge of ink through the recording head 39 is prohibited for all four sub-tanks 100.

  Next, in response to recording the image on one sheet according to the recording instruction, the controller 230 receives the signals currently output from each of the four liquid level sensors 155 (S65). Further, similarly to S63, the controller 230 causes the RAM 233 to store information indicating that the signal received from the liquid level sensor 155 is either a high-level signal or a low-level signal (S65). Then, the controller 230 executes a count process (S66). The count process is a process of updating the count values TN, SN, C_Empty flag, and S_Empty flag based on the signal received from the liquid level sensor 155 in S63 and S65. Details of the counting process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Next, the controller 230 records all the images indicated by the recording instruction on the sheet, and repeatedly executes the processing of S51 to S67 until there is no next page (S67: Yes). Then, the controller 230 records all the images indicated by the recording instruction on the sheet, and sets the values of the four S_Empty flags and the four C_Emptys in response to the absence of the next page (S67: No). The set value of each flag is determined (S68, S69).

  When at least one of the four S_Empty flags is set to “ON” (S68: ON), the controller 230 causes the display 17 to display an S_Empty notification screen (S70). Further, the controller 230 responds to the fact that “OFF” is set to all four S_Empty flags and “ON” is set to at least one of the four C_Empty flags (S68: OFF & S69: ON). ), A C_Empty notification screen is displayed on the display 17 (S71). The processing of S68 and S69 is an example of causing the alarm to notify the first notification.

  The S_Empty notification screen displayed in S70 may be similar to S52. The C_Empty notification screen is a screen for notifying the user that the ink cartridge 50 corresponding to the C_Empty flag for which “ON” is set is in the cartridge empty state. The C_Empty notification screen may include, for example, information indicating the color of the ink stored in the ink cartridge 50 in the cartridge empty state and the ink amounts Vc and Vs.

  FIG. 20C shows an example of a C_Empty notification screen. The C_Empty notification screen of the illustrated example has the objects 251, 252, and 253, and further has the object 256, similarly to the S_Empty notification screen of FIG. The object 256 has a character string "can be printed continuously with the ink in the main body", and makes the user recognize that printing can be continued.

  On the other hand, the controller 230 ends the image recording process in response to “OFF” being set to all of the four S_Empty flags and the four C_Empty flags (S69: OFF).

  Note that a specific example of the ejection instruction is not limited to the recording instruction, and may be a maintenance instruction or the like for instructing maintenance of the nozzle 40 such as purging. The controller 230 executes the same processing as in FIG. 18 in response to receiving a maintenance instruction through the operation panel 22, for example. Differences from the above-described processing when a maintenance instruction is received are as follows. First, the controller 230 drives a maintenance mechanism (not shown) to discharge ink through the nozzles 40 in S64. Further, the controller 230 executes the processing after S67 without executing the processing of S67 after executing the count processing.

[Counting process]
Next, with reference to FIG. 19, details of the count process executed by the controller 230 in S66 will be described. Note that the controller 230 executes the counting process independently for each of the four ink cartridges 50. Since the counting process for each ink cartridge 50 is common, only the counting process corresponding to one ink cartridge 50 will be described.

  First, the controller 230 compares the information indicating the signal of the liquid level sensor 155 stored in the RAM 233 in S63 and S65 (S81). That is, the controller 230 determines whether or not the output signals of the four liquid level sensors 155 have changed before and after performing the process of S64 immediately before performing the count process (S66).

  The controller 230 responds to the fact that both the information stored in the RAM 233 in S63 and S65 indicate a low level signal (that is, the output signal of the liquid level sensor 155 has not changed before and after the processing of S64) (S81: L → L), the count value TN is updated (S82). That is, the controller 230 counts up the count value TN with a value corresponding to the ink amount instructed to be discharged in the immediately preceding S64.

Further, the controller 230 calculates the current total amount Vt (S83). First, the controller 230 calculates the total amount Vt after the cartridge replacement, which is the sum of the ink amount Vc and the ink amount Vs stored in the EEPROM 234 after the cartridge replacement. Then, the controller 230 calculates the current total amount Vt as a value obtained by subtracting the ink amount corresponding to the count value TN from the calculated total amount Vt (Vt = Vt−TN). Then, the controller 230 obtains the ink amounts Vc and Vs based on the calculated total amount Vt and the volume _Vth (S83).

The controller 230 determines whether the calculated current total amount Vt is _{equal to} or _larger than the volume _Vth . If the current total amount Vt is equal to or larger than the volume _Vth , the controller 230 determines the volume _Vth as the ink amount Vs. On the other hand, if the current total amount Vt is less than the volume _Vth , the controller 230 sets the current total amount Vt as the ink amount Vs.

  Subsequently, the controller 230 displays either one of the calculated ink amount Vc and the calculated ink amount Vs and one of the calculated total amount Vt on the display 17 (S84). Further, the controller 230 updates the ink amount Vc stored in the memory of the IC chip 66 of the ink cartridge 50 with the calculated ink amount Vc (S85).

  Further, the controller 230 determines that the information stored in the RAM 233 in S63 indicates a low-level signal, and the information stored in the RAM 233 in S65 indicates a high-level signal (that is, the output of the liquid level sensor 155 before and after the processing of S64). In response to the signal change (S81: L → H), the C_Empty flag is set to “ON” (S86) The output of the liquid level sensor 155 changes from the low level signal to the high level signal in S64. This corresponds to the fact that the liquid level in the second storage chamber 105 has reached the predetermined position B during the processing of Step 1. Thereafter, the ink does not move between the ink cartridge 50 and the sub tank 100.

  Further, the controller 230 reads the predetermined ink amount Vcc (= 0) from the ROM 232, and sets the ink amount Vc to the predetermined ink amount Vcc (S87). Similarly, the controller 230 reads the predetermined ink amount Vsc (corresponding to the volume of the second storage chamber 105 below the predetermined position B) from the ROM 232, and sets the ink amount Vs to the predetermined ink amount Vsc (S87). Since the ink amounts Vc and Vs calculated in the counting process include an error, the controller 230 sets the ink amount Vc to the predetermined ink amount Vcc at the timing when the output of the liquid level sensor 155 changes from the low level signal to the high level signal. The accumulated error is reset by setting the ink amount Vs as the predetermined ink amount Vsc. Further, the controller 230 calculates the current total amount Vt as the same value as the ink amount Vs (Vt = Vsc) (S87). When the ink amount Vc becomes zero, the total amount Vt becomes the same value as the ink amount Vs.

  Then, the controller 230 displays either one of the current ink amount Vc and the ink amount Vs and the current total amount Vt on the display 17. Further, the controller 230 overwrites the ink amount Vc stored in the memory of the IC chip 66 of the ink cartridge 50 with the aforementioned ink amount Vc (= 0) (S89).

  Note that the output signal of the liquid level sensor 155 changes during the process of S64. Therefore, the predetermined ink amount Vsc read in S87 is not exactly the amount of ink stored in the sub tank 100 at the moment when the output signal of the liquid level sensor 155 changes, but the output signal of the liquid level sensor 155. Indicates the amount of ink immediately before changes. However, since the difference between these ink amounts is slight, the predetermined ink amount Vsc read in S87 is approximately treated as the ink amount Vs at the time when the output signal of the liquid level sensor 155 changes.

  Further, the controller 230 updates the count value SN stored in the EEPROM 234 with a value corresponding to the ink amount instructed to be discharged in S64 immediately before (S90). In other words, the controller 230 starts updating the count value SN and counts up in response to the output of the liquid level sensor 155 changing from the low level signal to the high level signal. Further, the controller 230 counts up the count value TN stored in the EEPROM 234 by a value corresponding to the ink amount instructed to be discharged in S64 immediately before.

  Then, the controller 230 calculates the ink amount Vs (S91). The calculated ink amount Vs is a value obtained by subtracting the ink amount corresponding to the count value SN stored in the EEPROM 234 from the predetermined ink amount Vsc stored in the ROM 232. Note that, as described above, after the output of the liquid level sensor 155 becomes a high level signal, the ink amount Vs has the same value as the current total amount Vt. The ink amount Vc is zero.

  Then, the controller 230 displays one of the calculated current ink amount Vc and the calculated ink amount Vs and the calculated current total amount Vt on the display 17 (S92). After the output of the liquid level sensor 155 becomes a high level signal, the ink amount Vc is zero. Therefore, the controller 230 needs to update the ink amount Vc stored in the memory of the IC chip 66 of the ink cartridge 50. Absent.

  Next, the controller 230 compares the count value SN updated in S90 with the threshold value Nth (S93). Then, upon determining that the count value SN updated in S90 is less than the threshold value Nth (S93: No), the controller 230 ends the counting process. On the other hand, in response to determining that the count value SN updated in S90 is equal to or greater than the threshold value Nth (S93: Yes), the controller 230 sets “ON” to the S_Empty flag (S94). Then, the controller 230 prohibits the discharge of the ink through the recording head 39 in response to the setting of the ON flag in the S_Empty flag, and ends the counting process.

  Further, the controller 230 reads the count value SN stored in the EEPROM 234 in response to the information stored in the RAM 233 in S63 and S65 both indicating a high level signal (S91: H → H). Then, the controller 230 counts up the read count value SN by a value corresponding to the ink amount instructed to be discharged in the immediately preceding S64, and stores the count value in the EEPROM 234 again. That is, the controller 230 updates the count value SN (S90). The controller 230 also updates the count value TN. Next, the controller 230 executes the above-described processing from S91 to S94 using the count value SN updated in S90.

[Operation and Effect of Second Embodiment]
According to the second embodiment, after receiving the low-level signal from the mounting sensor 154 and before receiving the low-level signal from the liquid level sensor 155 before the predetermined time ST has elapsed, the S_Empty notification screen is displayed on the display 17. Can be deleted from

  Further, based on the reception of the low-level signal from the mounting sensor 154, the screen during the ink inflow is displayed on the display 17, and based on the elapsed time T exceeding the predetermined time ST, the S_Empty notification screen is displayed again on the display 17. Can be displayed. Further, the controller 230 determines the elapsed time T using the different predetermined time ST based on the type information of the mounted ink cartridge 50 and the signal from the temperature sensor 89. It can be appropriately determined that the inflow of the ink has not progressed.

[Modification of Second Embodiment]
In the second embodiment, the screen indicating that the ink is flowing is displayed on the display 17 based on the reception of the low level signal from the mounting sensor 154. The display of the screen during the flow of ink may be omitted, and the display of the S_Empty notification screen may be continued. Alternatively, the S_Empty notification screen may be erased instead of displaying the screen during ink flow. Even when the display of the S_Empty notification screen is continued or erased without displaying the screen while the ink is flowing, if the elapsed time T from the installation of the ink cartridge 50 exceeds the predetermined time ST (S58: Yes), It is preferable that the controller 230 causes the display 17 to display an S_Empty notification screen. The display of the S_Empty notification screen on the display 17 in this case is an example of causing the notification device to notify the second notification.

  In the second embodiment, an example has been described in which the controller 230 permits discharge of ink through the recording head 39 when all four S_Empty flags are set to “OFF”. Accordingly, the C_Empty notification screen is displayed with all four S_Empty flags set to “OFF”, and when the user replaces the ink cartridge 50, the discharge of ink through the recording head 39 is permitted. It is. Here, when the ink cartridge 50 is replaced, that is, a low-level signal is received from the mounting sensor 154, a high-level signal is received from the mounting sensor 154, and then a low-level signal is received from the mounting sensor 154. Accordingly, the controller 230 may prohibit the discharge of the ink through the recording head 39. Then, in response to the ink flowing from the ink cartridge 50 into the sub-tank 100 and receiving the low-level signal from the liquid level sensor 155, the controller 230 may permit discharge of the ink through the recording head 39.

  In the second embodiment, an example has been described in which the controller 230 corrects the predetermined time ST based on the temperature t detected by the temperature sensor 89 (S58). The higher the temperature, the lower the viscosity of the ink, and the higher the flow rate of the ink from the ink cartridge 50 to the sub-tank 100. As the inflow velocity increases, the time required for the same volume of ink to flow in decreases. Therefore, it is preferable that the predetermined time ST be corrected such that the higher the temperature t, the shorter the predetermined time ST.

  Further, the predetermined time ST may be corrected based on the viscosity of the ink. The higher the viscosity of the ink, the lower the flow rate of the ink from the ink cartridge 50 to the sub-tank 100. Therefore, it is preferable that the predetermined time ST be corrected such that the higher the viscosity of the ink, the longer the predetermined time ST becomes. For example, the controller 230 may correct the predetermined time ST stored in the RAM 233 based on the information indicating the viscosity of the ink stored in the memory of the IC chip 66 of the ink cartridge 50 (S58).

  Further, the predetermined time ST may be corrected based on the liquid level of the ink stored in the first storage chamber 53 of the ink cartridge 50. The higher the liquid level, the higher the flow rate of the ink from the ink cartridge 50 to the sub-tank 100. Therefore, it is preferable that the predetermined time ST be corrected so that the higher the liquid level, the shorter the predetermined time ST becomes. For example, the predetermined time stored in the RAM 233 by the controller 230 based on the information indicating the liquid level of the ink stored in the first storage chamber 53 stored in the memory of the IC chip 66 of the ink cartridge 50 ST may be corrected (S58).

[Other Modifications]
In each of the above embodiments, the controller 230 receives a low-level signal from the mounting sensor 154, then receives a high-level signal from the mounting sensor 154, and then receives a low-level signal from the mounting sensor 154. (S14: Yes), the process shown in S15 was executed. The controller 230 executes the process shown in S15 when the ink cartridge 50 is mounted in the mounting case 71 in which the ink cartridge 50 does not exist in the mounting case 71. That is, the controller 230 may execute the process shown in S15 in response to determining that the ink cartridge 50 has been mounted in the mounting case 71. Note that the controller 230 receives the low-level signal from the mounting sensor 154, subsequently receives the high-level signal from the mounting sensor 154, and further receives the low-level signal from the mounting sensor 154, which means that the controller 230 This is an example of a case where it is determined that the cartridge is mounted in the mounting case 71. Another example in which the controller 230 determines that the ink cartridge 50 has been mounted in the mounting case 71 will be described below.

  For example, the controller 230 receives a low-level signal after receiving a high-level signal from the cover sensor 88. Then, the controller 230 reads the identification information from the memory of the IC chip 66 and compares it with the identification information of the ink cartridge 50 before replacement stored in the EEPROM 234. In response to determining that the identification information read from the memory of the IC chip 66 is different from the identification information stored in the EEPROM 234, the controller 230 may execute the processing shown in S35. That is, "the controller 230 reads the identification information from the memory of the IC chip 66 and compares it with the identification information of the ink cartridge 50 before replacement stored in the EEPROM 234. As a result, the identification information read from the memory of the IC chip 66 And that the identification information stored in the EEPROM 234 is different. "Is an example of the determination that the controller 230 determines that the ink cartridge 50 is mounted in the mounting case 71.

  Further, for example, the controller 230 receives a low-level signal after receiving a high-level signal from the cover sensor 88. Then, the controller 230 causes the user to display a confirmation screen indicating whether the new ink cartridge 50 has been mounted in the mounting case 71 through the display 17. While displaying the confirmation screen on the display 17, the controller 230 receives an input corresponding to the confirmation screen via the operation panel 22. In response to the received input corresponding to the fact that a new ink cartridge 50 has been mounted in the mounting case 71, the controller 230 executes the processing shown in S35. That is, “the controller 230 receives the low level signal after receiving the high level signal from the cover sensor 88. Then, the controller 230 prompts the user through the display 17 to mount the new ink cartridge 50 in the mounting case 71. While the confirmation screen is displayed on the display 17, the controller 230 receives an input corresponding to the confirmation screen through the operation panel 22. The received input is This corresponds to an example in which the controller 230 determines that the ink cartridge 50 has been mounted in the mounting case 71.

  In each of the above embodiments, the liquid level sensor 155 uses a prism having a different reflectance depending on whether or not the ink is in contact with the rear wall 112 of the second storage chamber 105, and the liquid level sensor 155 is used in the second storage chamber 105. This is a sensor for optically detecting the liquid level of the ink, but the configuration of the liquid level sensor 155 is not particularly limited as long as the liquid level of the ink in the second storage chamber 105 can be detected. For example, whether or not the detected portion of the actuator provided in the second storage chamber 105 and rotated depending on whether or not the liquid level of the second storage chamber 105 is less than the boundary position B is located at the detection position The liquid level sensor 155 may be configured to detect the above. Further, the configuration may be such that the liquid level of the ink in the second storage chamber 105 is detected by an electrode. The liquid level sensor 155 outputs a different signal depending on the liquid level of the first storage chamber 53 of the ink cartridge 50, instead of outputting a different signal depending on the liquid level of the second storage chamber 105 of the sub tank 100. There may be.

  In each of the above embodiments, an example has been described in which when at least one of the four S_Empty flags is set to “ON”, discharge of ink through the recording head 39 is prohibited for all four sub-tanks 100. . Discharging of ink through the recording head 39 may be prohibited only for the sub-tank 100 for which the S_Empty flag is set to “ON”. When at least one of the S_Empty flags for magenta, cyan, and yellow is set to “ON” and the S_Empty flag for black is set to “OFF”, the magenta, cyan, and yellow inks are set. Discharge may be prohibited, and discharge of black ink may be permitted.

  The IC chip 66 contacts and comes into contact with the contact 152, but instead reads and writes data in a non-contact manner using radio waves such as NFC (near field communication) and RFID (radio frequency identification). An information medium and an interface may be employed.

  In the above embodiment, the ink is described as an example of a liquid. However, the liquid may be, for example, a pretreatment liquid that is discharged onto a sheet or the like prior to the ink at the time of image recording, or may clean the recording head 39. Water may be used.

10 Multifunction machine (liquid discharge device)
17 Display (alarm)
39: recording head 53: first storage chamber (first liquid chamber)
71 mounting case 89 temperature sensor 100 subtank 103 liquid flow path 104 gas flow path 105 second storage chamber (second liquid chamber)
106 ... atmosphere communication port 131 ... first opening 132 ... second opening 141 ... third opening 142 ... fourth opening 147 ... atmosphere communication path 152 ... contact (interface)
155: liquid level sensor 230: controller 234: EEPROM (memory)

Claims (20)

Tank and
A mounting case in which the cartridge is mounted,
A head communicating with the tank,
A liquid level sensor,
Memory and
And a controller, comprising:
The cartridge is
A first liquid chamber for storing liquid;
The above tank is
A second liquid chamber for storing the liquid,
A liquid flow path and a gas flow path communicating with the second liquid chamber,
An air communication passage that communicates the second liquid chamber with the outside,
The liquid flow path has a first opening formed at one end communicating with the second liquid chamber, and a second opening formed at the other end opposite to the one end and opened to the outside. And
The gas flow path has a third opening formed at one end communicating with the second liquid chamber, and a fourth opening formed at the other end opposite to the one end and opened to the outside. And
The cartridge is mounted on the mounting case, and the first liquid chamber of the cartridge communicates with the second opening of the liquid flow path of the tank and the fourth opening of the gas flow path. In the attached mounting state,
The first liquid chamber has a portion located above the second opening,
The second liquid chamber has a portion located below the third opening,
The above controller is
Receiving a first discharge instruction for discharging the liquid through the head,
The first count value is updated with a value corresponding to the amount of liquid instructed to be discharged in the received first discharge instruction,
The first count value is subtracted from the total liquid amount Vt which is the sum of the liquid amount Vc stored in the first liquid chamber and the liquid amount Vs stored in the second liquid chamber to obtain the total liquid amount. Calculate Vt,
Determining the liquid amount Vc and the liquid amount Vs based on the calculated total liquid amount Vt;
Receiving, from the liquid level sensor, a first signal output by the liquid level sensor in accordance with the position of the liquid level in the second liquid chamber being equal to or greater than a predetermined position;
A second signal output by the liquid level sensor in response to the position of the liquid level in the second liquid chamber being less than the predetermined position, after receiving the first signal, receiving the second signal from the liquid level sensor. As the condition, the total liquid amount Vt or the liquid amount Vs is determined as a fixed value A,
After receiving the second signal from the liquid level sensor after receiving the first signal, receiving a second discharge instruction to discharge liquid through the head;
On condition that the second discharge instruction has been received, the second count value is updated with a value corresponding to the amount of liquid whose discharge has been instructed in the second discharge instruction,
A liquid discharging device for calculating the total liquid amount Vt or the liquid amount Vs by subtracting the second count value from the total liquid amount Vt or the liquid amount Vs determined to the fixed value A. The above controller is
2. The liquid discharging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid amount Vc stored in the memory is updated to zero in response to receiving the second signal from the liquid level sensor after receiving the first signal.   The liquid discharging device according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined position is a position below an imaginary line extending in a horizontal direction including the third opening of the gas flow path when the cartridge is mounted on the mounting case. . It also has an alarm,
4. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the controller operates the annunciator between the time when the liquid amount Vc becomes zero and the time when the total liquid amount Vt or the liquid amount Vs becomes zero. 5. Liquid discharger. It also has an interface,
The liquid discharging device according to claim 1, wherein the controller stores the determined liquid amount Vc in a cartridge memory provided in the cartridge through the interface. The above controller is
Determine whether the cartridge is mounted in the mounting case,
In response to determining that the cartridge has been mounted in the mounting case, reading the liquid amount Vc stored in the cartridge memory,
The total liquid amount Vt is calculated based on the liquid amount Vc read from the cartridge memory and the total liquid amount Vt or the liquid amount Vs stored in the memory before determining that the cartridge is mounted. ,
The liquid discharging device according to claim 5, wherein the calculated total liquid amount Vt is stored in the memory.   7. The liquid discharging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the controller stores the used information in the cartridge memory through the interface when the liquid amount Vc becomes zero. The memory stores an arithmetic expression,
8. The liquid discharging device according to claim 1, wherein the controller calculates at least one of the liquid amount Vc and the liquid amount Vs from the total liquid amount Vt and the arithmetic expression. Tank and
A mounting case in which the cartridge is mounted,
A head communicating with the tank,
A liquid level sensor,
An alarm,
And a controller, comprising:
The cartridge is
A first liquid chamber for storing liquid;
The above tank is
A second liquid chamber for storing the liquid,
A liquid flow path and a gas flow path communicating with the second liquid chamber,
An air communication passage that communicates the second liquid chamber with the outside,
The liquid flow path has a first opening formed at one end communicating with the second liquid chamber, and a second opening formed at the other end opposite to the one end and opened to the outside. And
The gas flow path has a third opening formed at one end communicating with the second liquid chamber, and a fourth opening formed at the other end opposite to the one end and opened to the outside. And
The cartridge is mounted on the mounting case, and the first liquid chamber of the cartridge communicates with the second opening of the liquid flow path of the tank and the fourth opening of the gas flow path. In the attached mounting state,
The first liquid chamber has a portion located above the second opening,
The second liquid chamber has a portion located below the third opening,
The above controller is
Receiving a first signal output by the liquid level sensor from the liquid level sensor when the position of the liquid level in the second liquid chamber is less than a predetermined position;
Based on the reception of the first signal, the notification device notifies the first notification,
Determine whether the cartridge is mounted in the mounting case,
Receiving a second signal output by the liquid level sensor when the position of the liquid level in the second liquid chamber is equal to or greater than the predetermined position;
A liquid discharging device for canceling the first notification based on receiving the second signal from the liquid level sensor after determining that the cartridge is mounted in the mounting case. The above controller is
Receiving a discharge instruction to discharge the liquid through the head,
A count value is determined by a value corresponding to the amount of liquid instructed to be discharged by the discharge instruction, received after receiving the first signal,
Determine whether the count value has reached the threshold,
10. The liquid discharging device according to claim 9, wherein the notification device notifies the first notification based on the determination that the count value has reached the threshold value. The above controller is
Prohibiting discharge of the liquid through the head based on receiving the first signal;
11. The prohibition of discharge of liquid through the head is released based on receiving the second signal from the liquid level sensor after determining that the cartridge is mounted in the mounting case. Liquid discharger. The above controller is
Based on the fact that the second signal has not been received from the liquid level sensor before determining that the elapsed time since determining that the cartridge has been mounted in the mounting case has exceeded the predetermined time, The liquid discharging device according to claim 9, wherein the second notification is issued. The above controller is
Based on the determination that the cartridge has been mounted in the mounting case, the notification device notifies the third notification of the third notification,
Based on the fact that the second signal has not been received from the liquid level sensor before determining that the elapsed time since determining that the cartridge has been mounted in the mounting case has exceeded the predetermined time, The liquid discharging device according to claim 9, wherein the fourth notification is issued. Further equipped with an interface,
The above controller is
Based on the determination that the cartridge is mounted in the mounting case, the cartridge information stored in the cartridge memory of the cartridge is read through the interface,
Based on that the type of the cartridge indicated by the cartridge information is different, or
Based on the fact that the viscosity of the liquid stored in the first liquid chamber indicated by the cartridge information is different, or
Based on the fact that the liquid level of the first liquid chamber indicated by the cartridge information is different,
14. The liquid discharging device according to claim 12, wherein the elapsed time is determined using different predetermined times. Further comprising a temperature sensor,
The above controller is
Receiving a signal output by the temperature sensor based on the ambient temperature,
15. The liquid discharging device according to claim 12, wherein the elapsed time is determined using a different predetermined time based on a difference in a signal received from the temperature sensor. Tank and
A mounting case in which the cartridge is mounted,
A head communicating with the tank,
A liquid level sensor,
And a controller, comprising:
The cartridge is
A first liquid chamber for storing liquid;
The above tank is
A second liquid chamber for storing the liquid,
A liquid flow path and a gas flow path communicating with the second liquid chamber,
An air communication passage that communicates the second liquid chamber with the outside,
The liquid flow path has a first opening formed at one end communicating with the second liquid chamber, and a second opening formed at the other end opposite to the one end and opened to the outside. And
The gas flow path has a third opening formed at one end communicating with the second liquid chamber, and a fourth opening formed at the other end opposite to the one end and opened to the outside. And
The cartridge is mounted on the mounting case, and the first liquid chamber of the cartridge communicates with the second opening of the liquid flow path of the tank and the fourth opening of the gas flow path. In the attached mounting state,
The first liquid chamber has a portion located above the second opening,
The second liquid chamber has a portion located below the third opening,
The above controller is
Receiving a first signal output by the liquid level sensor from the liquid level sensor when the position of the liquid level in the second liquid chamber is less than a predetermined position;
Prohibiting discharge of the liquid through the head based on receiving the first signal;
Determine whether the cartridge is mounted in the mounting case,
Receiving a second signal output by the liquid level sensor when the position of the liquid level in the second liquid chamber is equal to or greater than the predetermined position;
A liquid discharging device that permits discharge of liquid through the head based on receiving the second signal from the liquid level sensor after determining that the cartridge is mounted in the mounting case. Further equipped with an alarm,
The above controller is
Based on the reception of the first signal, the notification device notifies the first notification,
17. The liquid discharging device according to claim 16, wherein the first notification is released based on receiving the second signal from the liquid level sensor after determining that the cartridge is mounted in the mounting case. The above controller is
18. The liquid discharging device according to claim 16, wherein discharging of the liquid through the head is prohibited based on the determination that the cartridge is mounted in the mounting case. Cartridge and
Tank and
A mounting case in which the cartridge is mounted,
A head communicating with the tank,
A liquid level sensor,
An alarm,
And a controller, comprising:
The cartridge is
A first liquid chamber for storing liquid;
The above tank is
A second liquid chamber for storing the liquid,
A liquid flow path and a gas flow path communicating with the second liquid chamber,
An air communication passage that communicates the second liquid chamber with the outside,
The liquid flow path has a first opening formed at one end communicating with the second liquid chamber, and a second opening formed at the other end opposite to the one end and opened to the outside. And
The gas flow path has a third opening formed at one end communicating with the second liquid chamber, and a fourth opening formed at the other end opposite to the one end and opened to the outside. And
The cartridge is mounted on the mounting case, and the first liquid chamber of the cartridge communicates with the second opening of the liquid flow path of the tank and the fourth opening of the gas flow path. In the attached mounting state,
The first liquid chamber has a portion located above the second opening,
The second liquid chamber has a portion located below the third opening,
The above controller is
Receiving a first signal output by the liquid level sensor from the liquid level sensor when the position of the liquid level in the second liquid chamber is less than a predetermined position;
Based on the reception of the first signal, the notification device notifies the first notification,
Determine whether the cartridge is mounted in the mounting case,
Receiving a second signal output by the liquid level sensor when the position of the liquid level in the second liquid chamber is equal to or greater than the predetermined position;
A liquid discharging device for canceling the first notification based on receiving the second signal from the liquid level sensor after determining that the cartridge is mounted in the mounting case. Cartridge and
Tank and
A mounting case in which the cartridge is mounted,
A head communicating with the tank,
A liquid level sensor,
And a controller, comprising:
The cartridge is
A first liquid chamber for storing liquid;
The above tank is
A second liquid chamber for storing the liquid,
A liquid flow path and a gas flow path communicating with the second liquid chamber,
An air communication passage that communicates the second liquid chamber with the outside,
The liquid flow path has a first opening formed at one end communicating with the second liquid chamber, and a second opening formed at the other end opposite to the one end and opened to the outside. And
The gas flow path has a third opening formed at one end communicating with the second liquid chamber, and a fourth opening formed at the other end opposite to the one end and opened to the outside. And
The cartridge is mounted on the mounting case, and the first liquid chamber of the cartridge communicates with the second opening of the liquid flow path of the tank and the fourth opening of the gas flow path. In the attached mounting state,
The first liquid chamber has a portion located above the second opening,
The second liquid chamber has a portion located below the third opening,
The above controller is
Receiving a first signal output by the liquid level sensor from the liquid level sensor when the position of the liquid level in the second liquid chamber is less than a predetermined position;
Prohibiting discharge of the liquid through the head based on receiving the first signal;
Determine whether the cartridge is mounted in the mounting case,
Receiving a second signal output by the liquid level sensor when the position of the liquid level in the second liquid chamber is equal to or greater than the predetermined position;
A liquid discharging device that permits discharge of liquid through the head based on receiving the second signal from the liquid level sensor after determining that the cartridge is mounted in the mounting case.

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